Ania Gzresik, Greg Dix

Laker: The Glory Years of Sir Freddie Laker

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Sir Freddie Laker was one of Britain's most renowned entrepreneurs. Aft er leaving school at age 16, his early years include the Berlin Airlift, Aviation Traders, the 'Accountant' aircraft - designed to replace the venerable DC-3 - the innovative Carvair and BUA. He was a millionaire before he'd turned 25. Aft er starting Laker Airways following the tragic death of his 17 year-old son Kevin, Freddie built the airline into a powerhouse, specialising in the European and North American markets. He then took on governments on both sides of the Atlantic for the licences to fl y his revolutionary 'Skytrain' service, for which is he is most known. Laker's Skytrain created hysteria akin to a grass roots movement. It gave the opportunity of aff ordable air travel between the UK and the USA to millions who could never before have the experience. Th e impact of Skytrain was pivotal in President Jimmy Carter's deregulation of the U.S. airline industry. Numerous airlines followed Laker's example to the point that now his original low-cost / no-frills model has become the industry standard for many of the world's air carriers. Fueled by commercial success followed by a well-deserved knighthood, Sir Freddie embarked on a massive expansion programme. He purchased many more aircraft, took on immense fi nancial commitments and sought hundreds of routes across the globe. Laker Airways was one of the top six transatlantic airlines by 1982 and Sir Freddie had made enemies amongst his competitors, who conspired against him. Despite monumental eff orts to assist Laker Airways with a refi nancing plan, a perfect storm of events compounded by ill-timed personal upheaval brought Sir Freddie's airline down on the 5th of February, 1982. Now, for the fi rst time, the unsanitised story of Sir Freddie, his brilliant and overly-ambitious business ventures and his turbulent personal life is being told.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: MYRTLE PR
• Seitenzahl: 550
• Erscheinungstermin: 7. Februar 2020
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 241mm x 160mm x 46mm
• Gewicht: 907g
• ISBN-13: 9780999293416
• ISBN-10: 0999293419
• Artikelnr.: 57975668

Autorenporträt

Gregory Dix worked with Sir Freddie Laker for twenty years in numerous roles. After obtaining his pilot's licence and undergoing formative years with British Midland, Monarch and Gatwick Handling, he started with Laker Airways in their Gatwick HQ Operations department managing Laker's entire fl eet on a day to day basis. Greg was sent to New York in 1978 to run the fl agship JFK station for Skytrain and he then set up and managed all Laker's stations in North America for the rapid expansion of the Skytrain service. After spending over two years in pursuit of Laker's 'Globetrain' inspired routes to the Far East and Australia, he oversaw Laker Airways' North American operations to the end. Few people knew Sir Freddie better than Greg, who points out "we always seemed to be pushing the limits and doing something worthwhile." Greg lives in western Massachusetts. AnIa Grzesik trained at Chelsea College of Art and Slade School of Fine Art. She started her career at F1 Magazine and was involved in the launch of BusinessF1 Magazine and as Art Director of SportsPro and Spectator Business magazines. Ania is the freelance creative director of the Myrtle Press, publishers of best-selling biographies on Grand Prix racing legends Ayrton Senna and James Hunt, actor Richard Burton and most recently soul superstar, Barry White. In the course of researching 'LAKER', Ania spent considerable time with the instigator and key protagonists of the unprecedented Laker Airways' antitrust case against most of Europe's state-owned airlines. Along with numerous other exclusive interviews and volumes of documents and correspondence, she has unique perspectives on Laker Airways and Sir Freddie that have never before been revealed. Ania is an artist, writer and graphic designer from Stratford-upon-Avon.