1 January 1914

On January 1, 1914 the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line became the world's first scheduled winged airline service, when Antony H. Jannus piloted the airline's Benoist Type XIV on its maiden flight between St. Petersburg and Tampa. The departure was reportedly observed by over 3,000 spectators. The first round-trip ticket was auctioned off for $400 to the former mayor of St. Petersburg, Abram C. Pheil. Pheil then boarded the wooden, open-air craft for the 23-minute flight.