Sarasota, FL 1968-1981

Florida Airlines was born in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Initially known as Florida Air Taxi, it provided service to and from Tampa to St. Petersburg. Later on, they expanded their route system to Ocala, Gainesville and Ft. Myers. Florida Air Taxi soon was sub-contracing for National Airlines flying to Ft. Myers. In 1968 Florida Air Taxi was renamed Florida Airlines and shortly afterward it moved its base of operation to the Sarasota-Bradenton airport. In 1975 Florida airlines acquired Shawnee Airlines. Then they purchased Air South. The airline ceased in 1981 and it's operations were taken over by Southern International Airways.