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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 31, 2008

TAMPA BAY AREA

Tampa Fares 14th Lowest

Tampa International Airport reported the nation's 14th-lowest departing air fares among the 100 largest U.S. airports for the period ending Sept. 30. For passengers departing Tampa's airport, round-trip and one-way air fares (grouped together for statistical purposes) averaged $264.38 for the third quarter, down 1.7 percent from the year-ago quarter and down 0.8 percent from the third quarter in 2000.

New Cigar-Coffee Shops

The owner of Casa Havana Coffee Bars & Cigars, a coffee shop for cigar smokers, said Wednesday that it will open three new locations in the Tampa Bay area next month. Acme Sports and Entertainment said 11 more locations will open by year's end, with hopes for Casa Havana stores in Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, New York and Chicago. Acme owns and operates Tabacaleras Cubanas USA in Ybor City and will sell its cigars at Casa Havana.
Ramil Joins TECO Board

John B. Ramil, president and chief operating officer of Tampa-based TECO Energy, has been named to the company's board of directors. Ramil, who joined TECO 32 years ago, is a graduate of the University of South Florida. He also is vice chairman of the USF Board of Trustees.

NATION

S&P May Cut Loan Ratings

Standard & Poor's is considering cutting its rating on $534 billion of subprime-mortgage securities and collateralized debt obligations, as home loan defaults rise. The downgrades may extend losses at the world's banks to more than $265 billion and have a "ripple impact" on financial markets because many banks haven't written down their subprime holdings to reflect their market values and downgrades may force their hands, S&P said Wednesday.

Passport Prices Increasing

Prices for U.S. passports are scheduled to rise today: $3 more for adults (to $100); and $2 more (to $85) for those younger than 16. Renewals will cost $75, up $8.

American Short Of Pilots

American Airlines has reassigned staff pilots usually assigned to training to operate some flights while canceling other flights next month as the world's largest carrier works to ease a crew shortage. American scrubbed 28 flights in February and told pilots it may ask them to fly when they are off duty or on reserve. The shortfall is tied to a rise in retirement rates and will last no more than two months, the airline said Wednesday. American has more than 4,000 daily flights.

A staff and wire report

Watch the Tribune's Business report at 5, 6 and 11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m. Saturdays on WFLA-TV.

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