Freddie Laker Champion of Low Cost Travel

I love reading the stories of legendary entrepreneurs, and when I was in my late teens, this guy was indeed a legend, one who inspired many others like Richard Branson.

Freddie Laker was a British entrepreneur and aviation pioneer who made a significant impact on the aviation industry in the 20th century. Born in London in 1922, Laker grew up with a passion for aviation and a desire to make air travel more accessible and affordable for everyone.

After serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II, Laker started his own aviation company, Laker Airways. The company initially operated small charter flights, but Laker quickly saw the potential for offering low-cost, scheduled flights to popular tourist destinations. In the 1970s, he launched the world’s first no-frills, low-cost airline, called Skytrain. The concept was a huge success, and it revolutionized the aviation industry by making air travel more accessible and affordable for millions of people.

Skytrain was based on a simple concept: offer low-cost, scheduled flights with no frills and no extras. Passengers could only bring one piece of carry-on luggage, and all other services, such as meals and in-flight entertainment, were charged separately. Despite the stripped-down service, Skytrain was an instant hit, and the airline quickly grew to become one of the largest and most successful in the world.