1914: The End of a First-of-a-Kind Airline Service

May 5, 1914

In Florida, the last official flight of the St. Petersburg-Tampa (SPT) Airboat Line took place. This line, which provided the world’s first scheduled commercial airline service using winged aircraft, had made its inaugural flight on January 1 of that year. 

SPT Airboat Line was operated by aviator and aircraft manufacturer Thomas W. Benoist (1874-1917). His biplanes known as the Benoist XIV flying boats were used for this line’s flights between the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa. The first of these flights of approximately 23 miles (37 kilometers) across Tampa Bay was piloted by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus (1889-1916). His widely publicized New Year’s Day flight – depicted in the accompanying photo – was witnessed by more than 3,000 people.

During its existence, SPT Airboat Line ultimately covered more than 7,000 miles (11,000 kilometers); made 172 flights altogether; and transported a total of 1,205 passengers. The cost for a one-way ticket for those 22-minute, twice-a-day, six-days-a-week flights was five dollars. Notwithstanding both the trailblazing role of SPT Airboat Line and the popularity of its scheduled service, the flights were terminated with the end of that year’s tourist season in the Sunshine State. 

A strong case can be made, however, that SPT Airboat Line played a long-lasting key role in what has become extensive airline travel across the globe. As Benoist predicted while discussing that Florida-based service, “Some day people will be crossing oceans on airliners like they do on steamships today.”

Photo Credit: Public Domain

For more information on the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Petersburg%E2%80%93Tampa_Airboat_Line