Although never explicitly stated (or perhaps it was behind closed doors), Joe Lopano, the CEO at Tampa International Airport since January, was hired in part to get more direct international flights originating from T.I.A.
Local business and political leaders have enthusiastically rallied to the cause, with Mayor Bob Buckhorn flying to Panama barely a month into his tenure earlier this year to push for such flights between the city and Panama City.
The work by Lopano, his staff and parts of the local business community paid dividends today with the announcement that beginning next May, nonstop flights between Tampa and Zurich, Switzerland will take place twice a week.
The news that Edelweiss Air will be that carrier was announced at a news conference this morning by Lopano at TIA, who said:
"As the Gateway to the West Coast of Florida and a primary economic engine for the Tampa Bay region, we have a tremendous responsibility and a great opportunity to grow our region. Our success in recruiting
Edelweiss is the direct result of our new strategy of bold cooperation with key community partners who are helping us build and deliver compelling business cases to airlines around the world."
This article appears in Sep 15-21, 2011.