Freddie Laker, the British aviation icon
whose low-cost New York-London Skytrain service rocked the
transatlantic air market in the 1970s, died in a hospital in
Hollywood, Fla. He was 83.
Laker, who was
knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to U.K.
aviation and travel, launched Laker Airways, a small charter
airline in the U.K., in 1966, offering package holidays and, in the
1970s, transatlantic charters.
In 1971 Laker
began to plan for a no-reservation, no-frills scheduled service
between New York and Londons Stansted Airport priced at $99
one-way. He referred to it as a product for the common man,
designed for students, backpackers, senior citizens, working people
and families on a budget.
It was a radical
concept for transatlantic travel, and the established airlines
bitterly opposed it.
After years of
regulatory delay in the U.K., the concept picked up momentum when
the U.S. began to move toward deregulation and endorsed the
Skytrain concept.
Laker finally
launched the Skytrain service between New York and Londons Gatwick
Airport in 1977 at a one-way fare of $135.
Though passengers
had to line up on the day of departure to buy a ticket, it was an
overnight success.
The ebullient
Laker, already something of a celebrity in the U.K., quickly became
a media phenomenon in the U.S., relishing the role of maverick
entrepreneur challenging the global airline establishment.
As the service
expanded to Los Angeles and Miami, major airlines stepped up the
competition, matching Lakers low fares with roundtrip excursion
rates.
To stay
competitive, Skytrain began to offer frills such as reservations,
commissions to agents and even a business-class cabin.
At its peak,
Laker Airways operated a fleet of about 20 aircraft in scheduled
and charter service, including 11 DC-10s.
But operations
came to a screeching halt in February 1982, when the line declared
bankruptcy and ceased flying, leaving thousands of passengers
stranded in the U.S. and Europe.
Laker blamed many
of the airlines financial woes on an alleged conspiracy involving
British Airways and other competing airlines, which led to a
protracted antitrust case and, eventually, a financial
settlement.
Laker retired to
the Bahamas and in the mid-1990s quietly launched a venture called
Laker Airways (Bahamas), which offered air-inclusive packages to
resorts in the region. It shut down last year.
Laker remained a
popular figure in the U.K. Richard
Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways, has often referred to
Laker as a pioneer and role model. Virgin Atlantic named one of its
747s The Spirit of Sir Freddie.
According to a
Web site maintained by former employees of Laker Airways, Laker is
survived by his wife, Jacqueline; his daughter, Elaine; and his
son, Freddie Jr.
It also reported
that memorial services were planned for south Florida, Grand Bahama
and England.
To contact
the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Andrew Compart
at [email protected].