Laker Airways

Ghost Corp Apparel — resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.

Laker Airways Ltd. was the independent British airline launched by entrepreneur Freddie Laker in 1966. Based at London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex, it began commercial flying on July 29, 1966, using Bristol Britannia turboprops for contract and charter work. Soon came BAC One-Elevens, then Boeing 707s and DC-10s: a very serious fleet for a company whose vibe was always a little more “why not?” than boardroom beige.

The big disruption arrived on September 26, 1977, when Laker introduced Skytrain between London Gatwick and New York. The scheduled service offered stripped-down, low-fare transatlantic travel—no frills, no aristocratic pricing, and, famously, no interest in pretending flying had to be reserved for expense accounts and tuxedos.

Skytrain helped make Laker one of aviation’s most memorable challengers, but the airline’s rapid expansion collided with recession, high fuel and interest costs, currency pressure, debt, and ferocious competition. Laker Airways entered receivership and halted operations on February 5, 1982. Its collapse left passengers, staff, creditors, and a whole lot of grounded optimism in its wake.

Our Laker Airways collection celebrates the jet-age underdog that made the Atlantic look smaller, cheaper, and considerably less stuffy. For anyone who appreciates DC-10 silhouettes, Gatwick departures, and corporate rebellion at cruising altitude, this is Skytrain spirit—minus the standby queue.