• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 09 / 10 / 2011

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By Laurie Davison, Reporter. TAMPA. The Tampa area has one of the largest Cuban-American populations in the country, so expectations are very high that the new direct flights starting this week will be a soaring success.

Two companies are scheduled to fly weekly round trips between Tampa and Cuba right now with a third carrier starting service in October.

Tessie Aral runs one of those companies, ABC Charters. She says its inaugural flights are full and she's already talking about expanding.

"My expectation as a business owner is we can fill more than one plane a week because really once a week to have a full operation in a city and dedicate employees that we have here locally doesn't make sense if we can't grow into something more," she said.

The carriers and travel agencies set up tables at the Cuban Club in Ybor City Tuesday night to answer questions about what people can expect.

Party-goers picked up brochures, eager to make future plans.

"I want to be one of the first guys down there," said traveler Gordon Chernecky. "I wish I was on that first flight but it's booked up but I will be going soon and I'm looking forward to it."

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor says she's been hearing from people in the Bay area for years who have to spend extra time and money to fly to Cuba from Miami. She hopes the new flights give them a more practical option, closer to home.

Castor sees it as a window of opportunity for the entire region.

"Hopefully, over time Tampa will become the gateway to Cuba and we can create jobs here in tourism and travel and more of our local hotels and motels can benefit as well," she said.

To give you can idea of numbers, ABC Charters say its planes will be carrying about 120 people.

Source: www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/september/307532/Expectations-high-fo...