georgiani chavez is going to cuba for the first time. like most americans she charted her flight. but that could soon change. several airlines hope to offer commercial flights to the island soon. >> i think it will be great. it is easier for us. >> reporter: several u.s. carriers applied to the u.s. department of transportation for u.s. flight lines. jet blue and southwest airlines would have several flights a day if approved. >> we have the third largest cuban american population in the united states. >> reporter: out of 110 daily flights to cuba, only a few carriers from chosen airports to let to fly to havana. >> it will be a competitive environment for winning the flights. there are only 20 slots allowed from the united states to cuba. and there are dozens of from the united states. >> reporter: commercial business would mean a big boost to tampa bay's economy. >> we have served about 73,000 people in 2015 which is a 65% increase over 2012. the first year, the first full year of operation. there is demand here for that service which is really important to the department of tra

. >> reporter: georgiani chavez is making her first trip to cuba. like most americans, she chartered her flight, but that could soon change. several airlines hope to offer commercial flights to the island soon. several u.s. carriers applied to the u.s. department of transportation for u.s. cuba flight rights. u.s. and jet blue would have several flights a day out of tampa international if approved. cuba, only a few carriers from chosen airports will get to fly to havana, the mecca destination. >> it will be a competitive environment for winning the flights. there are only 20 slots allowed from the united states to havana and dozens of applications to serve havana from the united states. >> reporter: jamel lanee, newschannel8. >>> steve jerve, you know what today is right? >> it is leap year? the beginning of the strawberry >> good guess. through. minds. we decided biscuit. >> seems like quite a debate. some were saying cheesecake. >> cheesecake with sounds delicious. 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, a few clouds around this evening. we are not expecting rain. i