Word: lakers
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These plans are only the latest salvos in the air-fare war. This month Pan Am, TWA and some foreign flag carriers will begin offering New York-London cut-rate fares that compete with the $236 round-trip Skytrain shuttle designed by Britain's upstart Laker Airways. Within the U.S., airlines have been announcing a profusion of cheap fares since last April; that was when American Airlines set off the bargain binge by offering advance-booked coast-to-coast flights at a "supersaver" round-trip fare of $231, which is 45% under the standard economy rate. Other carriers have...
...outdone, Laker struck back later in the week by proposing to the British government some revisions in his own plan (Washington's approval is not required). He requested that his baggage weight limit be lifted from 33 to 44 Ibs., equal to what the larger carriers will offer. To offset the bigger lines' advantage of landing at convenient Heathrow Airport, Laker wants to touch down at Gatwick, which is served by rail (though it is still about 40 minutes from London) and more accessible than the far-off Stansted field, where he first proposed to land. He also...
...after a three-day meeting of the International Air Transport Association, the industry group that sets fares charged by most scheduled overseas carriers. IATA'S officials were pleased that the organization had moved swiftly enough to avoid a messy price war among members-and wage it instead with Laker...
...worry now, at least from the standpoint of the U.S. carriers, is that the lower fares will slice into the lines' profits at the very time when they need money to replace aging air fleets. But Laker's heart does not bleed for the big boys. Through their governments, they have thrown one obstacle after another in his way. Says Laker: "The big carriers are now united in their determination to put us out of business. They have slashed their own fares, changed their own rules and granted themselves all the advantages denied to us under the terms...
...Laker's Skytrain terms are likely to be greeted favorably on the U.S. side of the Atlantic. New CAB Chairman Alfred Kahn, reflecting a refreshing willingness of the board to be less restrictive, says such special kinds of service are a "good thing" and foresees further rule relaxing to permit more efficient use of aircraft. This could result in cheaper rates between many destinations. At $236, Laker's fare already is the lowest transatlantic price in years. It is barely a fourth of the $830 minimum on the Queen Elizabeth 2. Indeed, it is $14 less than...