[4][5] The hangars promised for the airline were not completed, and the company's green and yellow aircraft Lark of Duluth went missing for several days leading up to the launch date as the freight train carrying it could not be located.

[6] On January 1, 1914, the SPT Airboat Line became the world's first scheduled winged airline service.

That same day, Antony H. Jannus piloted the airline's Benoist Type XIV on its maiden flight between St. Petersburg and Tampa.

[1] Due to widespread media coverage by the St. Petersburg Times, there were reportedly over 3,000 spectators at a parade accompanied by an Italian band at the departure point.

Pheil then boarded the wooden, open-air craft for the 23-minute flight[7] that rarely exceeded an altitude of 5 feet (1.5 m) above the water of Tampa Bay.