British Expatriate Network

Airline maverick Freddie Laker dies

MIAMI (Reuters) - Business maverick Freddie Laker, who built an airline empire on low-cost international travel only to see it collapse in ruins, has died in Miami, a family source said.




Shame .... traveled on laker airways many a time
It was cheap ,safe , but had a mad stampede for a seat once the gate was opened .

Like all independents the big airlines got together to cut them out by making them pay a premium for a gate and not letting the travel agents contracted with them to offer laker seating .



http//uk.news.yahoo.com/10022006/325/airline-maverick-freddie-laker-dies.html

Freddie Laker and Max Ward were responsible for making airline travel cheaper for the general public to fly.
Max Ward started Wardair in 1953 and eventualy like Laker was forced out of business by the larger airlines.
They provided a service that will never return.
http//www.exn.ca/FlightDeck/aviators/ward2.cfm

Interesting character who certainly made his mark on the air travel business.

He'd keep showing up in Union Jack newspaper, as he was obviously friends with their Miami, Florida correspondant.

Not exactly British Airways finest hour (not that they were alone in it) but then they are still in business and Laker was not.

Interesting comparison, when you look at all the positive comments from travellers and former employees on various websites, one of which was the Beeb. I don't think there was quite the same response when Lord King died. Sir Freddie Laker knew how to be a man of the people, and how to inspire a strong following.