Forget Ryanair – it’s 40 years since Skytrain first took off.
Last week, mute celebrations were held to celebrate four decades since the world’s first low-cost airline, Freddie Laker’s Skytrain. Skytrain was inaugurated between Gatwick and New York JFK on 26 September 1977, using the second prototype of the Douglas DC10 (purchased at a knockdown price).
Laker Airways failed in February 1982 due to financial problems caused allegedly by British Airways and others. Later, Laker, by then Sir Freddie, who with his then wife personally owned the airline, received a substantial pay-out by BA which was used to pay off his debts.