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10/02/2006
Airline pioneer Sir Freddie Laker dies
Sir Freddie Laker, the British pioneer of low-cost airline travel, has died at the age of 83.
Sir Freddie died of undisclosed causes in Miami. It is understood that he had been suffering from heart problems.
Sir Freddie is widely regarded as being the pioneer of budget airline travel. He launched his company Laker Airways in 1966. The company became hugely successful, because it made air travel, previously seen affordable only to the rich, available to everyone.
Laker Airways reached its peak in 1977 with the launch of the Skytrain service, which offered flights from London to New York for as little as $100.
The service became hugely popular, but sparked a price war with the major airlines, which resulted in the collapse of Laker Airways in 1982, with debts of around £270 million.
Thousands of pounds was contributed to a 'Save Laker' fund, which had been set up by members of the public in a bid to save the company.
Sir Freddie eventually moved to Miami and then the Bahamas, where he continued to work in the airline business, although on a smaller scale.
Sir Richard Branson paid tribute to Sir Freddie, telling the BBC "we all have a lot to thank him for". He said: "If it hadn't been for Sir Freddie, you wouldn't most likely have had Virgin Atlantic. You wouldn't have had the Easyjets of this world."
(KMcA)
Sir Freddie died of undisclosed causes in Miami. It is understood that he had been suffering from heart problems.
Sir Freddie is widely regarded as being the pioneer of budget airline travel. He launched his company Laker Airways in 1966. The company became hugely successful, because it made air travel, previously seen affordable only to the rich, available to everyone.
Laker Airways reached its peak in 1977 with the launch of the Skytrain service, which offered flights from London to New York for as little as $100.
The service became hugely popular, but sparked a price war with the major airlines, which resulted in the collapse of Laker Airways in 1982, with debts of around £270 million.
Thousands of pounds was contributed to a 'Save Laker' fund, which had been set up by members of the public in a bid to save the company.
Sir Freddie eventually moved to Miami and then the Bahamas, where he continued to work in the airline business, although on a smaller scale.
Sir Richard Branson paid tribute to Sir Freddie, telling the BBC "we all have a lot to thank him for". He said: "If it hadn't been for Sir Freddie, you wouldn't most likely have had Virgin Atlantic. You wouldn't have had the Easyjets of this world."
(KMcA)
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