While Concorde was fast and luxurious, and the choice of royals, Hollywood stars, and titans of industry, Freddie Laker of Laker Airways focused on cheap and basic. In doing so he revolutionized air travel in a much more fundamental way.

Here we see Laker mingling with passengers on board his transatlantic Skytrain service from London to New York in 1979, whose affordable tickets saw many members of the public take their first flights. The airline eventually failed, but it birthed the budget flying industry that continues to flourish to this day.

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Now discover the amazing history of train travel

Incredible vintage photos from the golden age of flying