Laker Airways (Bahamas) was an airline founded in 1992,[1] which operated until 2005.
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| Founded | 1992 (Laker Bahamas) 1996 (Laker Inc) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 2005 | ||||||
| Hubs | Freeport, Bahamas, Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size |
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| Destinations | London Gatwick Airport Manchester Airport Glasgow Prestwick Airport Miami International Airport Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Raleigh-Durham International Airport Richmond International Airport Nashville International Airport Palm Beach International Airport (West Palm Beach) | ||||||
| Headquarters | The Bahamas | ||||||
| Key people | Sir Freddie Laker Oscar Wyatt | ||||||
History edit
Laker Airways (Bahamas) was a US-registered airline based in the Bahamas to which Sir Freddie Laker lent his name and operational expertise. The airline was established in 1992 with financial assistance from Oscar Wyatt, a Texas oilman and business partner of Sir Freddie Laker.[1] The initial fleet comprised two Boeing 727-200 Advanced narrow-bodied jet aircraft.[1] Laker Airways (Bahamas) stopped operating in 2005 when the firm was wound up.
Laker Airways "Mark II" edit
In 1996 Sir Freddie Laker and his business partner Oscar Wyatt, a self-made Texas oilman, established Laker Airways, Inc. as a sister airline to Laker Airways (Bahamas) to follow in the original, UK-based Laker Airways footsteps.[2] Laker Airways "Mark II" leased two McDonnell Douglas DC-10 widebodied jets to operate low-fare, high quality transatlantic scheduled services, which commenced on 5 July 1996 between Fort Lauderdale in Florida and London Gatwick at a frequency of two return flights per week.[2][3][4] Additional scheduled services subsequently linked Orlando with Manchester and Glasgow Prestwick.[3] Laker Airways, Inc. ceased operations in 1998.[5]
Destinations in 1994 and 1995 edit
According to the September 15, 1994 edition of the Official Airline Guide (OAG), Laker Airway (Bahamas) was operating nonstop Boeing 727-200 jet service between its main base in Freeport, Bahamas (FPO) and the following U.S. destinations:[6]
- Baltimore, Maryland (BWI)
- Birmingham, Alabama (BHM)
- Chicago, Illinois - O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL)
- Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP)
- Memphis, Tennessee (MEM)
- Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina (RDU)
- Richmond, Virginia (RIC)
- West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI)
The April 2, 1995 OAG edition listed nonstop Laker 727 service between Freeport and the same U.S. cities above with the exception of Birmingham, Greenville and Memphis which were no longer served by the airline by this time with the following new destinations being served by Laker nonstop from Freeport as well:[7]
- Cleveland, Ohio (CLE)
- Hartford, Connecticut/Springfield, Massachusetts - Bradley International Airport (BDL)
According to other OAG flight listings, additional U.S. cities were served at various times as well during the airline's existence.
Historical Fleet edit
| Aircraft | Total | Registration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 727-2J7 | 2 | N552NA, N533NA | Laker Airways (Bahamas) |
| Boeing 727-247 | 1 | N580CR | Laker Airways (Bahamas) |
| Boeing 727-223 | 2 | N706AA, N707AA | Laker Airways (Bahamas) |
| Boeing 727-281 | 3 | N743US, N740US, N745US | Laker Airways (Bahamas) |
| Douglas DC-10-30F | 1 | N832LA | Laker Airways, Inc |
| Douglas DC-10-10 | 1 | N834LA | Laker Airways, Inc |
Notes edit
- ^ a b c Laker resurfaces with new Bahamas airline, Air Transport, Flight International, 8-14 April 1992, p. 8
- ^ a b PR Newswire for Journalists (Florida Attorney General sets July mediation deadline in Laker Airways antitrust suit against British Airways, July 9, 1997)
- ^ a b HighBeam Research (PR Newswire, Laker Airways inaugurates Fort Lauderdale - London schedule service, July 5, 1996)[dead link]
- ^ No Frills - The Truth behind the Low-cost Revolution in the Skies, Calder, S., Virgin Books, London, 2002, p. 63
- ^ independent.co.uk>News>Obituaries>Sir Freddie Laker (B. Ritchie, The Independent, print edition, 11 February 2006)
- ^ Sept. 15, 1994 OAG Desktop Flight Guide, North American edition, Freeport, Bahamas flight schedules
- ^ April 2, 1995 OAG Desktop Flight Guide, North American Edition, Freeport, Bahamas flight schedules
References/External links edit
- "Airliner Classics (Sir Freddie Laker - The Man Who Gave Us Skytrain, pp. 82-85)". Stamford, Lincs, UK: Key Publishing. November 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - AirlinersNet Photos
- Code and Aircraft Data[permanent dead link]
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