Orion Airways bases
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ahhhVC813
Thanks for that information regarding Orion flights from Southampton as I wasn't aware of that due to the fact I was travelling the world during that period in the Merchant Navy as I was away from the UK for nine months of the year so UK news from that period is s bit vague.
Thanks for that information regarding Orion flights from Southampton as I wasn't aware of that due to the fact I was travelling the world during that period in the Merchant Navy as I was away from the UK for nine months of the year so UK news from that period is s bit vague.
My only flight with them was Gatwick based, to Palma. The inbound aircraft was a ski flight from Geneva.
Owned by Horizon Holidays, based principally in the Midlands. This came out of the Midlands branch of Horizon Holidays, which had been a reasonable middle-market operator absorbed by downmarket Clarksons/Court Line, the whole group went under spectacularly in 1974 but the Midlands operation managed to extricate themselves within days, and carried on. They had previously had a longstanding tradition, surprisingly, of chartering Britannia aircraft, of course owned by their rival Thomson. This had worked well for some years but someone at Thomson decided to start stitching them up commercially so they set up their own Orion operation. They used to account for about three Britannia 737s, two at Birmingham and one East Midlands, so quite a loss to their Midlands bases. Subsequently Horizon, and Orion, developed to a more mainstream market spread where Gatwick, and particularly Manchester, were important as well.
Used to work in Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, in about 1981, facing the Portland Hotel which was the main Orion Hotac. Very regularly would see Orion crews leaving there so possibly the base was needing to be supported from elsewhere. Two pilots and three hosties (for a 130-seat 737-200) just fitted into a normal black taxi which was an economical transfer, the three girls on the back seat and the two from the pointy end squished onto the tip-up rear-facing seats. Decent chaps, aren't we all ? Anyone on here one of those crews ?
Last edited by WHBM; 15th Aug 2016 at 20:04.
Interesting story behind the founding of Orion. Similar in some respects to how Air Europe got going. Errol Cossey and Martin O'Regan at Dan Air were hankering for a new fuel efficient fleet to reduce costs and thus offer a better deal to Intasun, their main customer. Fred Newman, Dan's chairman, wasn't having it so EC and MOR approached Harry Goodman with a view to doing it themselves. Subsequently, Air Europe was born, with a small fleet of the holiday jet-of-the-moment, the 737-200.
At Leeds Bradford in the 1980s, it was common to have a 737 or three on the deck at the same time, from the likes of Orion, Air Europe, Britannia, Monarch and latterly, Dan Air. None of them based but passing through on W patterns.
At Leeds Bradford in the 1980s, it was common to have a 737 or three on the deck at the same time, from the likes of Orion, Air Europe, Britannia, Monarch and latterly, Dan Air. None of them based but passing through on W patterns.
https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...act=mrc&uact=8
Well remembered, senior engineer.
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when you see images of the Orion interiors 732's and A300s its only then you realise how long ago and dated it was. #cherylbaker
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EMA was HQ with hangar, simulator and cabin crew trainer, BHX had line maintenance and I believe that Gatwick had two aircraft based. Bass take over spoit it at Orion as they sold them to rival firm. 737-300s went to Gatwick. EMA got knackered old 737-200s and Britannia had the cheek to put up a poster saying it was their biggest flying programme ever!
Bases varied over time because Orion changed its operation most years. They did just nine summer seasons, 1980 to 1988. Started off with four aircraft in 1980, added a couple (plus bases) each year to 1984, which was something of a high point with 11 aircraft. Thereafter they trod water for the rest of their time, fleet rose and fell, ended up in 1988 with 10 aircraft, although by now two were A300s.
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Evanelpus
No he is absolutely correct threads do develop and evolve with some interesting information so it seems you have the problem and what exactly did you contribute to the discussion other than your ridiculous comment!
No he is absolutely correct threads do develop and evolve with some interesting information so it seems you have the problem and what exactly did you contribute to the discussion other than your ridiculous comment!
If going to do a W to a lesser point, this was typically done that the morning outbound routed back through there, and the return to base was in the evening. It was therefore standard that most W arrangements worked in and out of the lesser point in mid-afternoon, so the medium-sized places like Leeds or Cardiff that were not a base might well get several together. Must have challenged the handling agents.
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Flew with Orion 29th April 1980 from Manchester to Malta but returned two weeks later to Liverpool due to nightime runway closure at Manchester for re-surfacing. Possibly Liverpool was a base if only for one season.
Normal operating practice at the time was to have a summer morning departure from base at about 0800 to Spain etc, next rotation departed at about 1500, and if there was a night rotation one at about 2200, getting back to have a few hours maintenance and recovery time before starting the next day.
If going to do a W to a lesser point, this was typically done that the morning outbound routed back through there, and the return to base was in the evening. It was therefore standard that most W arrangements worked in and out of the lesser point in mid-afternoon, so the medium-sized places like Leeds or Cardiff that were not a base might well get several together. Must have challenged the handling agents.
If going to do a W to a lesser point, this was typically done that the morning outbound routed back through there, and the return to base was in the evening. It was therefore standard that most W arrangements worked in and out of the lesser point in mid-afternoon, so the medium-sized places like Leeds or Cardiff that were not a base might well get several together. Must have challenged the handling agents.
Thread drift over. Back to Orion!
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Fairdealfrank.
Not so! I did a couple of sub-charters for BD, Heathrow to Hannover and back, in April 1985 aboard G-BGTY.
Not so! I did a couple of sub-charters for BD, Heathrow to Hannover and back, in April 1985 aboard G-BGTY.
