Laker Airways

Laker Airways was a British airline which was founded by Freddie Laker in 1966 primarily for charter flights. After the change in market position 1977 is often called the first true European low cost airline. Was abandoned in 1982 due to bankruptcy of flight operations.

History

Foundation

On February 8, 1966 Laker Airways was founded in London -Gatwick. First, the airline offered low-cost and easy to be acquired charter flights. To this end, they acquired two Bristol Britannia by BOAC, a predecessor of today's British Airways. Laker ordered three new BAC One-Eleven -300. 1973 requested Laker route rights for the first no-frills flights from London to the U.S., but were not granted until 1977.

The " Skytrain "

On September 26, 1977 then a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 raised for the first time from the base London Gatwick to the USA, on 27 November 1978, the air service to Los Angeles was recorded. The passengers then had only 59 pounds to pay for these flights (now converted accordingly about 125 € ). The work was done under the name " Skytrain " flights were significantly cheaper than the competition, the passenger had, however, for all the desired extras ( this included the on-board meals) paid for. In addition, the tickets were sold only on the day of departure. Laker appointed to another five aircraft of type DC - 10th The " Skytrain " flights proved to be very popular, were among the first No frills flights worldwide, and were the first of their kind over long distances.

Introduction of intra-European flights on the Airbus A300

On April 10, 1979, ordered Sir Freddie Laker ten Airbus A300B -200. With these starting in January 1980 delivered medium-haul aircraft, he began to build a railroad network in Europe. Initially, the flights between Manchester and Zurich were included. With the help of this ongoing under the name "Metro Service " cheap flights Laker wanted to put the traditional national airlines on short and medium haul routes under pressure. However, he came thus into violent clashes with the established competition and could not subsequently enforce its license applications and slots for 37 European airports at discounted prices.

Insolvency

Not least because of this tough price war began the slow descent of Laker Airways. Because of the accident of a DC-10 American Airlines on May 25, 1979, the aircraft suffered a severe loss of image, which also attracted Laker Airways strongly affected. After this accident the worldwide DC-10 fleet for 5 weeks was shut down. However, Laker Airways had no other type of aircraft in order to carry out the " Skytrain " flights can, so this had to completely expose. Although the cause of the accident was Maintenance defects of American Airlines and not the aircraft itself, the DC-10 had to suffer in the aftermath from a bad reputation, which led among other things to the fact that the manufacturer on with DC incipient type designations for newly the market separately by type MD -replaced. In addition to that the undercapitalized Laker Airways even met several wrong decisions. Was removed increasingly from the original no-frills principle and approached the schema of the "normal" airlines more and more.

This one came in a much more direct price competition with established companies, especially with British Airways. The aircraft manufacturer McDonnell Douglas and the engine manufacturer General Electric ( GE) began a rescue package for the ailing company to prepare - background was that all McDonnell Douglas were DC-10 equipped by Laker Airways with CF6 engines from GE and beyond in part by the GE subsidiary GECAS leased. However learned that also private competition Society British Caledonian from that envisaged bailout and wrote a letter ( part including British Caledonian itself ) to all other European operators of DC-10 with CF6 engines, and was forwarded to McDonnell Douglas and General Electric. This was explained on behalf of all European DC-10/CF6-Betreiber that you will finish in the future with neither McDonnell Douglas nor with GE more shops, the proposed bailout of Laker Airways should be implemented. The two companies pulled the package back then, after Laker Airways on the morning of February 5, 1982 finally collapsed. At this time made ​​the lending banks loans totaling 270 million pounds claimed.

Sir Freddie Laker sued as a result, British Airways, British Caledonian, Pan Am, TWA, Lufthansa, Air France and other large companies for price fixing, which had the objective to drive Laker Airways out of business. The case was eventually settled out of court; total Laker received U.S. $ 100 million, making it Laker Airways (after liquidation of other property ) was possible to pay off the outstanding debt.

Laker Airways ( Bahamas)

After numerous unsuccessful attempts to Laker Airways to get back into the air that eventually all failed due to objections from the British Aviation Authority, Laker first moved to Miami and then to the Bahamas, where he was able to bring in 1992 Laker Airways ( Bahamas) at the start (where Laker itself is not president of this society, but was only officially worked as a consultant ). The airline was financed among other things by a Texas oil magnate and Laker business partner named Oscar Wyatt. First, we operated two Boeing 727-200 between Freeport and the U.S.; between 1996 and 1999, these machines have been supplemented by a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 -30, with which you took up long-haul flights. For a short time you operate twice a week, a connection between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and London Gatwick and Glasgow Prestwick. 2005 you had to cease operating; the company was settled.

Laker Airways ( Bahamas) was by air charter ( 1947-1959 ), Channel Air Bridge ( 1954-1962 ) and Laker Airways ( 1966-1982 ) Sir Freddie Lakers fourth and last airline. He died on 9 February 2006 at the age of 83 years.

Fleet

• Bristol Britannia
• Airbus A300
• BAC 1-11
• Boeing 707
• McDonnell Douglas DC-10
• Boeing 720

Former code data

• IATA Code: GK ( Laker Airways Ltd. ) / 6F Laker Airways ( Bahamas), Inc.
• ICAO code: LKR