Sir Freddie Laker has died.
Discussion
The 'pioneer of low-cost travel' Sir Freddie Laker has died at the age of 83 in Miami.
www.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,30100-1211863,00.html
Remember the phrase 'Book Early'?
(thumbs up).
www.lakerairways.co.uk/
>> Edited by scared but happy on Friday 10th February 12:48
www.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,30100-1211863,00.html
Remember the phrase 'Book Early'?
(thumbs up). www.lakerairways.co.uk/
>> Edited by scared but happy on Friday 10th February 12:48
I beg to differ on the commercial genius, Skytrain went bump in a big way and even allowing from the pressure from other airlines, recession etc.. he tried to grow too fast and it cost him and his creditors big time. He managed OK though still buying a new rolls every year and living in the Bahamas (I think)I wonder how many of his creditors were so lucky, I know a few tales of peoples lives ruined by it.
rds that put him out of buisness) 
Sir Freddie.There is no doubt that Freddie's Skytrain service was severly restricted from its full potential by the behaviour of rival airlines (British Airways and British Caledonian in particular) and also the British government of the day. However, Laker airways had survived as a viable airline from its foundation in 1966 right through to 1982 so the behaviour of other airlines was not the core problem.
In 1980, Freddie Laker purchased a small fleet of Airbus A310 airliners in order to begin operations of cut price short/medium haul services to Europe. These could have been the forerunner of Ryanair and Easyjet. However, Freddie borrowed in US dollars at a time when the pound was riding high against the dollar. Unfortunately for Freddie, in 1981 the dollar rocketed against the pound (the election of Reagan in the US and the collapse of the British economy in 1980/81 were the main reasons) and found that he couldn't afford the repayments on his dollar loans. UK banks wouldn't bolster his cash shortfall (which was going to be fairly short term anyway) and the airline collapsed. No doubt, there was not too much weeping and gnashing of teeth at BA or BCal but they were not the main villians. It was just bad luck.
Regarding the role model for today's cut-price operations. Laker is not the business model the Ryanairs and Easyjets of the world follow. The real cut-price pioneer was Herb Kelleher and his hugely successful Southwest Airlines of Texas.
In 1980, Freddie Laker purchased a small fleet of Airbus A310 airliners in order to begin operations of cut price short/medium haul services to Europe. These could have been the forerunner of Ryanair and Easyjet. However, Freddie borrowed in US dollars at a time when the pound was riding high against the dollar. Unfortunately for Freddie, in 1981 the dollar rocketed against the pound (the election of Reagan in the US and the collapse of the British economy in 1980/81 were the main reasons) and found that he couldn't afford the repayments on his dollar loans. UK banks wouldn't bolster his cash shortfall (which was going to be fairly short term anyway) and the airline collapsed. No doubt, there was not too much weeping and gnashing of teeth at BA or BCal but they were not the main villians. It was just bad luck.
Regarding the role model for today's cut-price operations. Laker is not the business model the Ryanairs and Easyjets of the world follow. The real cut-price pioneer was Herb Kelleher and his hugely successful Southwest Airlines of Texas.
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