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Orion Airways (known simply as 'Orion') was an
114
It was established as the charter airline of Horizon Travel and went on to develop scheduled services. The airline operated a fleet of
In 1987, the Horizon group, including Orion was bought by Bass, the large brewing and hotels group.Wright 1988, p. 243. As a successful holiday tour operator and integrated airline it was an appealing, tidy, and importantly a 'no-strings' package ripe for sale to a competitor. In 1988, Bass accepted an offer from the ever-expanding Thomson Travel Group. When the news was released that Orion was to be integrated into Britannia during 1989, it came as a surprise to the industry and public alike. The last flight took place on 26 January 1989 and it was not long before the familiar livery and titles disappeared from aircraft and buildings at East Midlands Airport because the new owner understandably intended to concentrate its activities at its Luton Airport base. Naturally, the scheduled licenses were transferred to Britannia without interruption, but at the end of the 1990 summer season, the airline decided to withdraw from this market in favour of its charter work. In 2005, the
The Orion Airways livery was a traditional white body with a grey underbelly separated by a triple cheatline in an unusual combination of gold, orange and chocolate-brown. The distinctive chocolate-brown tail bore a large stylized orange 'O' (see image).
and code information
*Orion Airways Flickr Grou
{{Airlines of the United Kingdom Defunct airlines of the United Kingdom Airlines established in 1979 Airlines disestablished in 1989 Companies based in Leicestershire North West Leicestershire District 1979 establishments in England 1989 disestablishments in England British companies established in 1979 British companies disestablished in 1989
airline
An airline is a company that provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for codeshare agreements, in wh ...
based in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
with its head office on the grounds of East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington
Castle Donington is a market town and civil parish in Leicestershire, England, on the edge of the National Forest and close to East Midlands Airport.
History
The name 'Donington' means 'farm/settlement connected with Dunna'. Another sugge ...
, North West Leicestershire
North West Leicestershire is a local government district in Leicestershire, England. The population of the Local Authority at the 2011 census was 93,348. Its main towns are Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Castle Donington, Coalville and Ibstock.
The d ...
."World Airline Directory." '' Flight International''. 29 March 1986114
It was established as the charter airline of Horizon Travel and went on to develop scheduled services. The airline operated a fleet of
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington.
Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating with two u ...
-200s, Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington.
Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating with two u ...
-300s and Airbus A300s between 1979 and 1989.
History
Horizon Travel established Orion in 1978 to support its package holiday business at a time when there was a shortage in capacity provided by charter airlines. Orion began operation with threeBoeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington.
Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating with two u ...
-200s on 28 March 1980.Wright 1988, pp. 240–241.
Over the next few years, Orion gradually expanded its fleet, operating 11 737-200s by the summer of 1984, and from 1985, beginning to replace them by more modern Boeing 737-300s.Wright 1988, p. 241. From 1984, the airline began to diversify, taking on charter work from other tour operators, while in 1986, Orion received permission to fly scheduled services from East Midlands Airport and Birmingham Airport to various holiday destinations.Wright 1988, p. 242.
The airline quickly won a reputation for its quality of service, punctuality, and distinctive look. The competition was fierce but Horizon's destinations continued to increase, correlating with Orion's increased route-network and fleet growth.
In 1987, the Horizon group, including Orion was bought by Bass, the large brewing and hotels group.Wright 1988, p. 243. As a successful holiday tour operator and integrated airline it was an appealing, tidy, and importantly a 'no-strings' package ripe for sale to a competitor. In 1988, Bass accepted an offer from the ever-expanding Thomson Travel Group. When the news was released that Orion was to be integrated into Britannia during 1989, it came as a surprise to the industry and public alike. The last flight took place on 26 January 1989 and it was not long before the familiar livery and titles disappeared from aircraft and buildings at East Midlands Airport because the new owner understandably intended to concentrate its activities at its Luton Airport base. Naturally, the scheduled licenses were transferred to Britannia without interruption, but at the end of the 1990 summer season, the airline decided to withdraw from this market in favour of its charter work. In 2005, the TUI Group
TUI Group is a German leisure, travel and tourism company. TUI is an acronym for ''Touristik Union International'' ("Tourism Union International"). TUI AG was known as Preussag AG until 1997 when the company changed its activities from mining to ...
(owner of Thomson Travel Group) made big expansion plans into the scheduled market.
In the meantime, the previous management of Orion had formed 'TEA UK' in association with TEA ( Trans European Airways of Belgium). Under the takeover agreement, they were not allowed to base any operations at East Midlands Airport so they choose nearby Birmingham Airport although the airline went on to establish a relatively large presence at East Midlands Airport.
Livery
The Orion Airways livery was a traditional white body with a grey underbelly separated by a triple cheatline in an unusual combination of gold, orange and chocolate-brown. The distinctive chocolate-brown tail bore a large stylized orange 'O' (see image).
Fleet
At the time of the merger, the fleet consisted of:See also
*List of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom
This is a list of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom.
See also
* List of airlines of the United Kingdom
* List of airports in the United Kingdom and the British Crown Dependencies
References
*
*
{{List of defunct airlines
...
References
*External links
*Orion Airways Vide*Orion Airways Flickr Grou
{{Airlines of the United Kingdom Defunct airlines of the United Kingdom Airlines established in 1979 Airlines disestablished in 1989 Companies based in Leicestershire North West Leicestershire District 1979 establishments in England 1989 disestablishments in England British companies established in 1979 British companies disestablished in 1989