The Tampa Tribune.February 16, 2011. TAMPA - Supporters of permitting charter flights between Tampa International Airport and Cuba said Tuesday they are dismayed by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's attempts to deny them and say they will continue to push to make the flights happen.Rubio last week introduced an amendment to a Federal Aviation Administration funding bill to "prevent the expansion of commerce through direct flights with state sponsors of terrorism," which the State Department lists as Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.">The Tampa Tribune.February 16, 2011. TAMPA - Supporters of permitting charter flights between Tampa International Airport and Cuba said Tuesday they are dismayed by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's attempts to deny them and say they will continue to push to make the flights happen.Rubio last week introduced an amendment to a Federal Aviation Administration funding bill to "prevent the expansion of commerce through direct flights with state sponsors of terrorism," which the State Department lists as Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.">

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Cuba flight backers eager

The Tampa Tribune.February 16, 2011. TAMPA - Supporters of permitting charter flights between Tampa International Airport and Cuba said Tuesday they are dismayed by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's attempts to deny them and say they will continue to push to make the flights happen.

Rubio last week introduced an amendment to a Federal Aviation Administration funding bill to "prevent the expansion of commerce through direct flights with state sponsors of terrorism," which the State Department lists as Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.

The Obama Administration in January said it would permit U.S. airports in addition to those in New York, Los Angeles and Miami to stage charter flights to serve those with family ties in Cuba.

Al Fox, founder of the Alliance for Responsible Cuba Policy, a nonprofit, anti-embargo group based in Tampa, called Rubio's attempts "laughable."

"It doesn't have a chance at passing," Fox said. "He's pandering to the right-wing people. It won't see the light of day."

Steve Burton, a Tampa lawyer who serves on the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority board, said "Rubio is just dead wrong from an economic development standpoint for our local area and for the state as a whole."

Burton, who traveled to Cuba in December 2009, said he was moved by seeing families with U.S. ties being reunited.

"That broke my heart," Burton said.

Tampa International director Joe Lopano said the airport is ready to host Cuban charter flights once issues are resolved.

Delia Muniz Serrano, a 67-year-old native of Cuba, hopes to be among the first to visit her family when charter flights from Tampa are allowed. She has a sister, brother and several nieces and nephews on the island nation.

"I have been patient for this long," said Serrano, who last visited Cuba in 2006. "I will wait for it to happen. And I'm confident it will happen because it's the right thing to do."

Rubio said in an interview last week with a News Channel 8 affiliate in Miami that permitting charter flights from additional airports would allow Cuba to collect additional fees that would be used to allow Castro to stay in power.

"It's important for people to see the Castro government is not a Cold War relic," Rubio said, adding that Cuba spies on the United States.

Source: www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/16/PMENEWSO3-cuba-flight-backers-eager/news-metro/

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