Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressDecember 9, 2016

Demand for travel to Cuba may be flattening, with soaring hotel prices on the island, American Airlines cutting some flights, and uncertainty over whether new travel restrictions could be imposed when Donald Trump takes office. Gregory Geronemus, co-CEO of smarTours, a tour company that’s taken 3,000 Americans to Cuba, confirms there has been a softening […]

Scott PowersJuly 11, 2016

A company providing airline and airplane in-flight entertainment systems plans to expand its Brevard and Orange county operations and add as many as 500 new jobs over the next five years, Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday during a trade mission to England. Thales, a French aerospace, transportation, defense and security technology company, announced plans to expand its […]

Associated PressJuly 7, 2016

The U.S. government on Thursday tentatively approved scheduled commercial airline service to Havana from 10 American cities, further bridging the gulf between countries as close as an hour flight but long kept at a greater distance by the Cold War. The decision is another long stride in President Barack Obama‘s effort to normalize U.S.-Cuba relations. […]

Associated PressJune 13, 2016

Six airlines won permission Friday to resume scheduled commercial air service from the U.S. to Cuba for the first time in more than five decades, another milestone in President Barack Obama‘s campaign to normalize relations between Cold War foes. The airlines — American, Frontier, JetBlue, Silver Airways, Southwest and Sun Country — were approved by […]

Ryan RayMarch 23, 2016

The future of Florida’s aviation fuel taxation regime is set for a major overhaul on July 1, if Gov. Rick Scott signs an omnibus tax bill into law as expected. For the state’s largest air carriers, that’s a good thing indeed. The bill removes exemptions to the state’s jet fuel tax, which currently apply to once-upstart carriers like Southwest […]

Bob SparksMarch 11, 2016

With the state budget set to be passed Friday, attention will soon turn to the process of identifying dubious local projects funded within the budget deal. Budget “turkeys,” as they are called, are held up for scorn by Florida TaxWatch and often vetoed by the governor. As governor, Jeb Bush established firm criteria for funding […]

Associated PressFebruary 13, 2016

The United States and Cuba will sign an agreement next week to resume commercial air traffic for the first time in five decades, starting the clock on dozens of new flights operating daily by next fall, U.S. officials said Friday. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is scheduled to fly to Havana on Tuesday to cement […]

Ryan RayApril 27, 2015

Where things stand on a number of “legislative food fights” is a complicated question in today’s adversarial climate at the Capitol. The $4 billion chasm between the House and Senate budget proposals casts a shadow on every corner of legislative business, both appropriations and policy measures. “Bill aren’t just dying; they’re being massacred,” Rep. Frank Artiles told […]

Mitch PerryDecember 15, 2014

Business and political leaders in Tampa Bay have been putting an intense focus on establishing trade relations in Central and South America in recent years, making excursions to Columbia, Panama and most recently, Chile. Now they’re targeting Brazil. On Monday morning, the Florida Chamber of Commerce presented a two-hour discussion on creating business opportunities with the largest country […]

Tag: JetBlue

Is demand for travel to Cuba flattening?

Rick Scott announces airliner entertainment company’s expansion, 500 jobs

U.S. gives tentative OK to flights to Cuba from 10 U.S. cities

Tampa bypassed in approved U.S. flights to Cuba

Jet fuel tax changes set to become law July 1, barring unlikely veto

Enticing JetBlue to Tallahassee offers statewide benefits

Air traffic between US, Cuba to increase with new deal

The latest on 5 legislative food fights

Tampa Bay business officials target Brazil for more trade opportunities