After and early airline in endeavor in England… After Sky Train brought to ruin by BA and members of MP... After Laker International... Sir Freddy Laker, with the energy and enthusiasm of a young kid, created Laker Bahama Airlines a Bahamian airline based in Fort Lauderdale.
I had the pleasure of first meeting Sir Freddy in 1999 in “Aviators” a restaurant on the west side ramp of Fort Lauderdale International Airport (KFLL). My impression of Sir Freddy from day one was that he was a man of class and a true gentleman. Occasionally, we would have lunch together from time to time. I was very intrigued by his exploits in aviation from the 1940s up to Laker Bahama Airlines. While I was with a charter airline, I had the pleasure of providing short call sub-service with our 727s for Sir Freddy from time to time when one of his aircraft were out of service. In 2001, I had the pleasure of having our airline providing sub-service for Laker Bahama, while his aircraft were undergoing “C” Checks. I remember Sir Freddy as a hands on owner/operator. Sir Freddy, himself, personally made sure my crews were taken care of while on layovers in Freeport. On several occasions, he would ride our aircraft and personally greet the passengers and talk to them while on route. Sir Freddy’s, generosity was extended to the employees of our airline from day one. Sir Freddy provided our crews with gratuitous unlimited hotel/food/vacation vouchers at the hotels he was affiliated with in the Bahamas along with free transport on his airline too.
Sir Freddy’s demeanor was no different whether at lunch, at the bar, or at the office. In my opinion, Sir Freddy Laker’s hand shake was just as good as his signature on a contract… I will always remember Sir Freddy as a true gentleman… a class act… and an undaunted pioneer in low cost commercial air travel.