Recognized as the man who gave the British people a gateway to the rest of the world, Sir Freddie Laker, died 9 February 2006 aged 84.

Through the latter half of the 20th century he changed the face of air travel by introducing low-price fares, an idea that has since spawned hugely successful companies like Easyjet and Ryanair.

With wild determination, ruthless resilience and a brilliant business-mind Sir Freddie really rattled the cages of the major airlines, which later lead to the end of their dominance of the skies.

For his service to commercial aviation and the British economy he was awarded a knighthood, which was presented by Queen Elizabeth II.

Frederick Alfred Laker was born on 6 August 1922 in Kent, England and started working as an engineer at the age of 16 at Short Brothers, an aircraft-building business based in Rochester

Much of his acute knowledge of aviation blossomed from what he picked-up during his next role as a member of the RAF Transport Auxiliary (1941-46).

A businessman at heart and a shining opportunist, his first venture, a war-surplus aircraft company, flourished during the Berlin airlifts of 1948, where all his aircrafts were used to get supplies into Berlin.

In 1955 Sir Freddie started his first scheduled service, Channel Air Bridge, flying passengers, and their cars, from Southend to Calais.

Appointed as managing director of British United Airways in 1960 he was yet to see the fruition of his ultimate dream, to form his own airline.

A few years on this dream took-off, after splitting from British United he formed Laker Airways- travellers bought their cheap flight tickets on the day and paid for their meals separately.

In the early 70s he lodged an application with the Air Transport Licensing board to launch a transatlantic service- this marked the beginning of the battle for Skytrain, which would take him six years to win.

Despite many successful years, Laker Airways went bankrupt in 1982, he spent the rest of his life keeping a low profile while he worked on smaller projects to clear his debt.

He married four times and had a son, a daughter and another two sons that tragically died.

The colourful, charismatic champion of the ‘forgotten man’ was a beloved and admired friend to many businessmen who were inspired by his work.

Sir Richard Branson, who was one of them, said Laker; “was a larger-than-life figure, with a wicked sense of humour and a great friend”.

Sir Freddie will be remembered in the aviation industry as a charming, resilient giant of a man who took on the combined strength of the world’s major airlines and won.