4th carrier announces Tampa-Cuba flights

4th carrier announces Tampa-Cuba flights
By Ted Jackovics | Tribune Staff
Published: October 16, 2013
TAMPA — Another charter flight operator plans to begin offering a
Tampa-Cuba route.

Miami-based Gulfstream Air Charters will use aircraft provided by
Lakeland-based SkyKing to fly between Tampa International Airport and
Santa Clara, Cuba, Tampa airport spokeswoman Janet Zink said Tuesday.
SkyKing flies Boeing 737s.

A Gulfstream official confirmed the service, which will begin Nov. 10.

Gulfstream's entry into the Tampa-Cuba market, in particular on flights
serving Santa Clara, a city in central Cuba with a population of more
than 225,000, appears to create intense competition on the route.

Miami-based ABC Charters, one of two charter services operating flights
between Tampa and Cuba, plans to launch a weekly Tampa-Santa Clara
flight on Dec. 4.

Tampa-based Island Travel & Tours, which flies between Tampa and Havana,
has U.S. and Cuban government permission to serve Santa Clara but has
not released its plans for that route.

California-based Cuba Travel Services Inc. said Monday it would begin
flying between Tampa and Cuba by year's end, but it could not reveal its
destinations until U.S. regulatory paperwork — held up by the government
shutdown — is approved. Reports among those familiar with Cuba flights
said CTS at one point was interested in both the Havana and Santa Clara
routes from Tampa.

The charter carrier was spun off from Gulfstream International Airlines,
which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2010 and
subsequently was taken over by Victory Park Capital.

Victory Park Capital transformed Gulfstream's scheduled service into
Silver Airways, which serves Tampa International, but Silver Airways and
Gulfstream Air Charters have no corporate connection.

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

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