They started it all.........

[Old fella]

Remember them, they started it all back in the 80's

[PositiveRate27]

Founded 7 years before I was born, but the state of the industry is completely my fault because 30 years later I accepted a job that pays me to fly, instead of watching other people do it while I throw bags into the back of their airplane...

[iflyforpie]

I thought it was Southwest Airlines ten years earlier....

[cggnl]

If I never knew better I would say this is a photo that I took. I have the exact same photo, with the exact same ground service equipment, taken at the exact same location. We were probably standing by or parked next to each other. Taken in CYQX, mid 80's, next to Universal Helicopters, thru the little hole in the fence that I put there. LOL

[Old fella]

Got the pic off Facebook actually from the numerous aviation/airline sites and there are plenty of them there.

Peoples , as they claimed was to revolutionize travel in that the days of major carriers/unions was coming to an end with their arrival. Now dial it up 30 yrs later and some(not all) carriers and their unions are still around in some shape/form. It was interesting times back then……….

[single_swine_herder]

Actually folks ..... wasn't it Sir Freddy Laker that started it all with the "no frills," low-cost model of airline operation when "Laker Airways" Skytrain service was founded in 1977?

I have a dim recollection of them offering promotional $99 fares New York to London.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laker_Airways

Neat video on "Sir Freddy" here .....


http://youtu.be/fy4hcU3qudI

[Old fella]

Yes swine you are correct on Laker but don't think operations are similar. Peoples was kind of a free for all like you paid when you got on. No bookings as you just showed up with the rest of the cattle to do battle to get a spot(those with the biggest horns won). I remember it being on the news at airports with all the pax not happy at all, some had to wait for next flight(when ever that was) and do battle again. I believe Laker was more structured with the introduction of advanced booking charter........... but this stuff was some time ago and all in the dustbin of aviation

Cheers mate

[single_swine_herder]

The video says that Skytrain pax just showed up at the counter .... no reservations, everyone got in line and paid at the wicket (not a sticky one.)

Brought along their food, picnic boxes, individual teabags, etc..... or they could order ahead and pay a surcharge for a typical of the day airline meal.

For the day, it was a revolutionary concept and for quite awhile, was financially successful until the recession of 1982 and there simply wasn't enough capital to continue competing with the larger flag carriers when it came time to grovel for public money.

[photofly]

For the day, it was a revolutionary concept and for quite awhile, was financially successful until the recession of 1982 and there simply wasn't enough capital to continue competing with the larger flag carriers when it came time to grovel for public money.

My contemporaneous recollection is that actually he was royal shafted by BA and the British Government.

[ReserveTank]

I think this started it all. I think he felt that he didn't appear to the public as enough of a capitalist, so he signed up for some votes. Carter's a swell fellow, though.

Airline Deregulation Act.

[iflyforpie]

In a similar vein... Eastern Airlines Shuttle was basically a no-frills, no booking, chose-your-seat-when-you-get-on-the-plane kind of operation. They just had an hourly schedule, a fare, and guaranteed seats.... with another aircraft standing by if the first one got filled. Of course there was Delta Shuttle, Trump Shuttle, et al who followed or succeeded after that....