Freddie Laker

Sir Frederick Alfred Laker ( born August 6, 1922 in Canterbury, † 9 February 2006 in Miami), better known as Sir Freddie Laker, was a British entrepreneur. He was known primarily for his airline Laker Airways, which introduced the first No frills concept over long distances.

First own airline start-ups (1949-1965)

Laker began his career in the aviation industry at producer shorts. During the Second World War was a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary Laker, where he remained until 1946. This year, he founded his first company, air charter, with which he led, among other cargo flights for the Berlin Airlift. 1949 bought on Laker Aviation Traders, a company which exempted inter alia decommissioned aircraft and engine conversions undertook. In 1954, the airline Channel Air Bridge, with which he, among other plant Carvair aircraft, transported cars across the English Channel Freddie Laker. In 1959 Lakers first airline, Air Charter, on the Channel Air Bridge. Channel Air Bridge even in 1960, bought by Air Holding, the parent company of British United Airways. However, the name Channel Air Bridge remained after more than two years in use. The company merged in 1963 with Silver City Airways British United Air Ferries. In the meantime, Laker had been appointed as managing director of British United Airways. Under his leadership ( 1960-1965 ), British United became the first British airline that was completely privately owned, modern jet aircraft (BAC 1-11 and Vickers VC -10) ordered and started. 1965 Laker left the company due to extensive disagreements between him and the company chairman Miley Wyatt to start his own company.

Laker Airways (1966-1982)

Laker initially worked mainly in charter and package tour market with its airline. The first aircraft were decommissioned machinery of British Airways - predecessor BOAC. Starting in 1977, Laker Airways was the first company that offered so -called no frills flights over long distances. Tickets for the " Skytrain " said flights, first from London Gatwick to the U.S. were, with prices ranging from partly under £ 60 very cheap especially for its time, but the passengers had to pay itself all the desired extra (including in-flight catering ). 1979 Freddie Laker was defeated by Queen Elizabeth II for his services in the field of civil aviation knighted. Due to outstanding receivables in the amount of 270 million pounds refused to lending banks of the Company on 5 February 1982, all further payments, which Laker Airways had to stop the operation. Laker even sued as a result several major airlines for alleged price fixing, which Laker Airways should be driven out of business. It was finally agreed out of court to a payment in the amount of U.S. $ 100 million to Laker.

Sir Freddie after 1982

Until the mid-1980s tried Laker Airways further damages from British Airways to get, but without success. Laker tried several times to resume flight operations, which ultimately failed at the British Aviation Authority despite public donations of £ 1 million. He moved first to Miami and then later to the Bahamas where the 1992 Laker Airways ( Bahamas) newly founded launched. The flight operations began with two Boeing 727-200 from Freeport in the United States. Between 1996 and 1999 some long- haul flights with DC-10 took place. The new, as Laker Airways ( Bahamas) known, airline also suffered ups and downs in 2005 and had to finally stop running.

Freddie Laker supported Richard Branson and Stelios Haji- Ioannou, the founder of the new British Airways - Virgin Atlantic and Easyjet competitors in the 90s, especially sideswiped on the British Airways. Virgin, which began with a Skytrain flights similar route network, christened one of its Boeing 747 on the name "Spirit of Sir Freddie ".

Thank Laker considered as the personification of capitalism, not only by its rapid ascent and descent. He was, for example, 1984 in parody Top Secret! mentioned in a number of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

  • Briton
  • Entrepreneur
  • Born in 1922
  • Died in 2006
  • Man
349528
de