ExXB: "an elderly DC-10 with a stop in Bangor, vs direct flights"
I'm afraid your memory is letting you down. In fact, Fred took delivery of 5 brand new DC-10-30s at the end of 1979 for the LAX (and MIA) routes so there was nothing elderly about them. (I flew my first direct service with G-BGXE on 05 Jan 1980). There was no need to go anywhere near Bangor with a -30 (more's the pity).
It was the fact that Fred was flying up to 3 direct LGW - LAX services per day with the new aircraft that got the big boys' attention.
Last edited by JW411; 14th Feb 2018 at 15:07.