Sir Freddie Laker, low-fares pioneer died yesterday in Miami. An obituary appeared earlier today on this web site.
Below are is a timeline of his life, and below that are some vintage photos of Laker Airways and Skytrain from the Flight Collection image archive.
Airline Business US editor Dave Field shares his thoughts on the man on his blog and Flight International would welcome others who knew Sir Freddie to contribute their anecodtes for publication later in the month.
| THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SIR FREDDIE | ||
| 1922 | Frederick Alfred Laker is born in Kent on 6 August | |
| 1938 | Freddie Laker starts his career working for Short Brothers in Rochester | |
| 1940 | After bombing of Shorts factory, he joins General Aircraft | |
| 1941 | He becomes member of the Air Transport Auxiliary, ferrying aircraft during World War II | |
| 1946 | Freddie becomes one of the first employees of the newly-established British European Airways Corporation (BEA), but stays only three months | |
| 1947 | He establishes Aviation Traders at Rochford Aerodrome near Southend, after acquiring 12 ex-BOAC converted Halifax bombers, known as Haltons in civil guise | |
| 1948 | Supplies six Haltons for the Berlin Airlift, which are operated by Bond Air Services. The Haltons fly for 54 weeks, carrying out some 4,700 flights. As a result, Freddie becomes wealthy 1953 Freddie forms Air Charter, which operates the Channel Air Bridge, carrying passengers, freight and livestock | |
| 1960 | He becomes managing director of British United Airways (BUA), founded by the merger of Airwork and Hunting-Clan Air Transport | |
| 1966 | Freddie launches Laker Airways, starting operations on inclusive-tour flights with two ex-BOAC Bristol Britannias | |
| 1971 | Laker Airways applies to the Air Transport Licensing Board (ATLB) for permission to launch a no-frills service between London and New York at a lowest single fare of £32.50, one-third of the fare charged by other airlines | |
| 1972 | Laker Airways takes delivery of its first McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 | |
| 1977 | US President Jimmy Carter gives Laker the go-ahead for a one-year trial of his low-fare Skytrain service, which is inaugurated on 26 September when the DC-10-10 ‘Eastern Belle’ leaves London Gatwick for New York | |
| 1978 | Freddie Laker is knighted by the Queen for his contribution to commercial aviation and the British economy | |
| 1979 | Sir Freddie signs contract for 10 Airbus A300B4-200s | |
| 1980 | Laker Airways takes delivery of its first Airbus | |
| 1981 | Laker Airways gains a foothold in Europe with the inauguration of a no-frills service between Manchester and Zurich. A300 enters service on the routes to Palma de Mallorca and Monastir | |
| 1982 | Laker Airways collapses owing more than £250 million ($470 million in 1982 dollars) to banks and other creditors, blaming its demise on the bullying tactics of a number of airlines, including British Airways | |
| 1985 | Sir Freddie accepts a private settlement to end his court case against the airlines | |
| 1992 | After turning his back on Britain, Sir Freddie establishes Laker Airways (Bahamas), which flies Boeing 727s between Nassau and Florida | |
| 1998 | Sir Freddie is made a Legend at the Smithonian Institution in Washington | |
| 2005 | The new Laker Airways ceases operations | |
| 2006 | Sir Freddie dies at Miami on 9 February, aged 83 | |
---------------------
.
Source: Flight International
