Orion Airways Airbus 300s.

[hatton]

Did Orion Airways operate its two Airbus 300s out of Gatwick or was one based at Manchester. Does anyone know which other UK airports the A300s flew out of?
Thanks.😀

[Noddys car]

From the old spotting logs G-BMZK frequented Birmingham around July 87

[hatton]

Do you know what destinations the A300 served from BHX. I know there was a EMA -PMI flight.

[Flightrider]

1988 Orion A300 programme:

Sat KG539 LGW-ALC 0815 / KG540 ALC-LGW 1355
Sat KG2205 LGW-AGP 1525 / KG2206 AGP-LGW 2200
Sat KG509 LGW-PMI 2320 / KG510 PMI-LGW 0610
Sun KG511 LGW-LEI 0745 / KG512 LEI-LGW 1405
Sun KG513 LGW-IBZ 1530 / KG514 IBZ-LGW 2200
Sun KG585 LGW-FAO 2320 / KG586 FAO-LGW 0610
Mon KG517 LGW-MAH 0655 / KG518 MAH-LGW 1230
Mon KG519 LGW-CFU 1325 / KG520 CFU-LGW 2030
Mon KG521 LGW-MLA 2200 / KG522 MLA-LGW 0510
Tue KG523 LGW-PMI 0640 / KG524 PMI-LGW 1215
Tue KG525 LGW-HER 1420 / KG526 HER-LGW 2320
Wed KG527 LGW-PMI 0050 / KG528 PMI-LGW 0555
Wed KG529 LGW-FUE 0940 / KG530 FUE-LGW 1810
Wed KG533 LGW-RHO 2040 / KG534 RHO-LGW 0555
Thu KG535 LGW-LEI 1055 / KG536 LEI-LGW 1650
Fri KG503 LGW-CFU 0740 / KG504 CFU-LGW 1545
Fri KG597 LGW-HER 2040 / KG598 HER-LGW 0555

Sat KG921 MAN-PMI 0945 / KG822 PMI-BHX 1540
Sat KG821 BHX-PMI 1710 / KG922 PMI-MAN 2310
Sun KG925 MAN-ALC 0035 / KG926 ALC-MAN 0640
Sun KG927 MAN-ALC 0755 / KG928 ALC-MAN 1440
Sun KG917 MAN-AGP 1615 / KG918 AGP-MAN 2250
Mon KG901 MAN-CFU 0510 / KG902 CFU-MAN 1245
Mon KG903 MAN-MAH 1800 / KG904 MAH-MAH 2350
Tue KG907 MAN-PMI 0735 / KG862 PMI-BHX 1320
Tue KG861 BHX-PMI 1500 / KG908 PMI-MAN 2040
Tue KG905 MAN-TFS 2210 / KG906 TFS-MAN 0745
Wed KG965 MAN-RHO 1010 / KG966 RHO-MAN 1920
Wed KG915 MAN-IBZ 2050 / KG916 IBZ-MAN 0250
Thu KG909 MAN-LEI 0735 / KG910 LEI-MAN 1340
Thu KG911 MAN-FAO 1520 / KG912 FAO-MAN 2210
Fri KG923 MAN-MAH 0745 / KG516 MAH-LGW 1330
Fri KG515 LGW-MAH 1455 / KG924 MAH-MAN 2040
Fri KG931 MAN-HER 2255 / KG932 HER-MAN 0815

All obviously in the days before EU261....

[Mooncrest]

Did Orion recruit Flight Engineers for their A300s or just place a third pilot in the FE seat ?

[classic200]

Did Orion recruit Flight Engineers for their A300s or just place a third pilot in the FE seat ?
Orion did have Flight Engineers, I think there 14 of us based at LGW or MAN, as for the A/C, they were based one at LGW and one at MAN and they would switch over each week so that some maint. could be attempted by Dan Air at LGW.
I personally have operated from MAN, EMA, LGW, BHX, LTN, STN and Liverpool to Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, France, Germany and all of the Islands.
Sadly it didn,t last long and was swallowed up by Britannia.

[rog747]

In addition to KG's small fleet obtained from LH - The A300B4 was operated by Laker who in 1981 had 3 new ones, Dan Air who leased 3 from Hapag Lloyd,
and Monarch had a new fleet of 4 x -600R's (2 crew) which were flown not just on Med and SKI charters but went all over - MBA via CAI, GOA MLE usually via BAH and MCO Mexico Caribbean usually via BGR

Air Scandic also had a couple of old ones

[Flightrider]

If I remember rightly, Dan-Air only had two A300s at any time - NA was borrowed from Hapag-Lloyd and then NB and NC followed a year later to replace it.

Unless my memory is also playing up, only the first of the Orion A300s was painted and the second stayed in a hybrid Lufthansa scheme (which was pretty austere) from beginning to end. I think it was ZK which was painted - it looked great in Orion colours.

[Flightrider]

One other Orion question of anyone in the know who may be able to answer, if I may ask.

Almeria was a relatively modest destination for the likes of Thomson and rivals of the era including Intasun, the Owners Abroad brands and Cosmos. However Orion had far more capacity into Almeria than almost everyone else put together at the time. Was this simply that Horizon had found a niche and made it work, or was there some other link through hotel ownership or a Bass brewery offshoot or some other connection that this served? Just curious - I'd remembered them flying Almeria from a lot of UK airports on a rotating pattern of Thursday and Sunday flights, but firing in A300s from LGW and MAN would be a lot of capacity even now, let alone back in 1988.

[Phileas Fogg]

In addition to KG's small fleet obtained from LH - The A300B4 was operated by Laker who in 1981 had 3 new ones, Dan Air who leased 3 from Hapag Lloyd,
and Monarch had a new fleet of 4 x -600R's (2 crew) which were flown not just on Med and SKI charters but went all over - MBA via CAI, GOA MLE usually via BAH and MCO Mexico Caribbean usually via BGR

Air Scandic also had a couple of old ones

I worked with G-BIMB during 1981/1982 and I found myself working with it again, this time registered as G-HLAD, during 2001/2002 before it became repossed by the lessor and so to the knackers yard


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x672/g_hlad_cea191ddaa7b4500f29c264585ee331b0d8c5da0.jpg

[DaveReidUK]

Interesting assortment of holes in that 727.

[rog747]

One other Orion question of anyone in the know who may be able to answer, if I may ask.

Almeria was a relatively modest destination for the likes of Thomson and rivals of the era including Intasun, the Owners Abroad brands and Cosmos. However Orion had far more capacity into Almeria than almost everyone else put together at the time. Was this simply that Horizon had found a niche and made it work, or was there some other link through hotel ownership or a Bass brewery offshoot or some other connection that this served? Just curious - I'd remembered them flying Almeria from a lot of UK airports on a rotating pattern of Thursday and Sunday flights, but firing in A300s from LGW and MAN would be a lot of capacity even now, let alone back in 1988.

I think it was the original Horizon Hols that set up Mojacar and Roquetas de Mar
and built some hotels as a new resort and it became a new ''Costa Almeria'' back in the early 70's...It was unheard of before then

[rog747]

If I remember rightly, Dan-Air only had two A300s at any time - NA was borrowed from Hapag-Lloyd and then NB and NC followed a year later to replace it.

Unless my memory is also playing up, only the first of the Orion A300s was painted and the second stayed in a hybrid Lufthansa scheme (which was pretty austere) from beginning to end. I think it was ZK which was painted - it looked great in Orion colours.

Yes DA only had 2 at any one time - One of the 3 was never painted up in full DA livery
Both KG a/c got full Orion livery ZK & ZL

[hatton]

1988 Orion A300 programme:

Sat KG539 LGW-ALC 0815 / KG540 ALC-LGW 1355
Sat KG2205 LGW-AGP 1525 / KG2206 AGP-LGW 2200
Sat KG509 LGW-PMI 2320 / KG510 PMI-LGW 0610
Sun KG511 LGW-LEI 0745 / KG512 LEI-LGW 1405
Sun KG513 LGW-IBZ 1530 / KG514 IBZ-LGW 2200
Sun KG585 LGW-FAO 2320 / KG586 FAO-LGW 0610
Mon KG517 LGW-MAH 0655 / KG518 MAH-LGW 1230
Mon KG519 LGW-CFU 1325 / KG520 CFU-LGW 2030
Mon KG521 LGW-MLA 2200 / KG522 MLA-LGW 0510
Tue KG523 LGW-PMI 0640 / KG524 PMI-LGW 1215
Tue KG525 LGW-HER 1420 / KG526 HER-LGW 2320
Wed KG527 LGW-PMI 0050 / KG528 PMI-LGW 0555
Wed KG529 LGW-FUE 0940 / KG530 FUE-LGW 1810
Wed KG533 LGW-RHO 2040 / KG534 RHO-LGW 0555
Thu KG535 LGW-LEI 1055 / KG536 LEI-LGW 1650
Fri KG503 LGW-CFU 0740 / KG504 CFU-LGW 1545
Fri KG597 LGW-HER 2040 / KG598 HER-LGW 0555

Sat KG921 MAN-PMI 0945 / KG822 PMI-BHX 1540
Sat KG821 BHX-PMI 1710 / KG922 PMI-MAN 2310
Sun KG925 MAN-ALC 0035 / KG926 ALC-MAN 0640
Sun KG927 MAN-ALC 0755 / KG928 ALC-MAN 1440
Sun KG917 MAN-AGP 1615 / KG918 AGP-MAN 2250
Mon KG901 MAN-CFU 0510 / KG902 CFU-MAN 1245
Mon KG903 MAN-MAH 1800 / KG904 MAH-MAH 2350
Tue KG907 MAN-PMI 0735 / KG862 PMI-BHX 1320
Tue KG861 BHX-PMI 1500 / KG908 PMI-MAN 2040
Tue KG905 MAN-TFS 2210 / KG906 TFS-MAN 0745
Wed KG965 MAN-RHO 1010 / KG966 RHO-MAN 1920
Wed KG915 MAN-IBZ 2050 / KG916 IBZ-MAN 0250
Thu KG909 MAN-LEI 0735 / KG910 LEI-MAN 1340
Thu KG911 MAN-FAO 1520 / KG912 FAO-MAN 2210
Fri KG923 MAN-MAH 0745 / KG516 MAH-LGW 1330
Fri KG515 LGW-MAH 1455 / KG924 MAH-MAN 2040
Fri KG931 MAN-HER 2255 / KG932 HER-MAN 0815

All obviously in the days before EU261....Thank you for this, really appreciate it. Was Orion’s EMA timetable to the same destinations but with 737-300s?

[rog747]

Thank you for this, really appreciate it. Was Orion’s EMA timetable to the same destinations but with 737-300s?

Looking at that 1988 list there are a few W rotations on there where BHX sees the MAN A300 fly in and out - I guess EMA likely saw those as well now and again too on peak dates/routes
They only flew 2 seasons 87 and 88

The 737's did loads of W flights in and out of - Bournemouth Blackpool Bristol Southend Teesside Bristol LBA LTN GLA

EMA had 737-200 and 300 series that flew to all or most of those places the A300's did - possibly to more smaller Greek islands too

[hatton]

Looking at that 1988 list there are a few W rotations on there where BHX sees the MAN A300 fly in and out - I guess EMA likely saw those as well now and again too on peak dates/routes
They only flew 2 seasons 87 and 88

The 737's did loads of W flights in and out of - Bournemouth Blackpool Bristol Southend Teesside Bristol LBA LTN GLA

EMA had 737-200 and 300 series that flew to all or most of those places the A300's did - possibly to more smaller Greek islands too
I wonder if Orion flew into Skaithos and Mykonos?

[Flightrider]

1988 EMA programme for two based 737-300s:

Sat KG703 EMA-PMI 0710 / KG704 PMI-EMA 1350
Sat KG204 EMA-PMI 1530 / KG205 PMI-EMA 2115
Sat KG2861 EMA-GRO 2210 / KG2862 GRO-EMA 0310
Sun KG711 EMA-MUC 0825 / KG712 MUC-EMA 1310
Sun KG777 EMA-LEI 1415 / KG778 LEI-EMA 2050
Sun KG721 EMA-FAO 2150 / KG722 FAO-EMA 0430
Mon KG2407 EMA-CFU 1225 / KG2408 CFU-EMA 2015
Mon KG2603 EMA-ZTH 2135 / KG2604 ZTH-EMA 0645 (tech stop QTV on the way home)
Tue KG204 EMA-PMI 0940 / KG205 PMI-EMA 1535
Tue KG717 EMA-HER 1630 / KG718 HER-EMA 2345
Wed KG719 EMA-PMI 0055 / KG720 PMI-EMA 0635
Wed KG733 EMA-IBZ 1545 / KG734 IBZ-EMA 2135
Wed KG751 EMA-RHO 2245 / KG752 RHO-EMA 0810
Thu KG749 EMA-FAO 0935 / KG750 FAO-EMA 1615
Thu KG2881 EMA-GRO 1715 / KG2882 GRO-EMA 2215
Thu KG771 EMA-AGP 2330 / KG772 AGP-EMA 0600
Fri KG705 EMA-NAP 0710 / KG706 NAP-EMA 1450
Fri KG791 EMA-MAH 1545 / KG792 MAH-EMA 2130
Fri KG737 EMA-CFU 2240 / KG738 CFU-EMA 0625

Sat KG701 EMA-ALC 1040 / KG702 ALC-EMA 1650
Sat KG709 EMA-PMI 1800 / KG710 PMI-EMA 2345
Sun KG707 EMA-PMI 0040 / KG708 PMI-EMA 0625
Sun KG206 EMA-AGP 0905 / KG866 AGP-BHX 1540
Sun KG865 BHX-AGP 1700 / KG207 AGP-EMA 2340
Mon KG773 EMA-IBZ 0035 / KG774 IBZ-EMA 0625
Mon KG769 EMA-MAH 0910 / KG770 MAH-EMA 1450
Mon KG755 EMA-MAH 1550 / KG756 MAH-EMA 2125
Mon KG725 EMA-CFU 2330 / KG726 CFU-EMA 0710
Tue KG715 EMA-TFS 0900 / KG716 TFS-EMA 0545
Wed KG781 EMA-QTV 0800 / KG782 QTV-EMA 1310
Wed KG727 EMA-LCA 1415 / KG728 LCA-EMA 0055
Thu KG783 EMA-LEI 0800 / KG784 LEI-EMA 1430
Thu KG2877 EMA-REU 1515 / KG2878 REU-EMA 2020
Thu KG767 EMA-PMI 2130 / KG768 PMI-EMA 0315
Fri KG2605 EMA-CFU 1345 / KG2606 CFU-EMA 2130
Fri KG743 EMA-HER 2255 / KG744 HER-EMA 0825

Sun KG761 EMA-IBZ 1455 / KG762 IBZ-EMA 1345 ran on 737-200 as a W pattern off Birmingham

Quite a bit of other flying though - BHX/JER on Saturdays had an Orion 737, an Air UK Leisure 737-200, a Brymon Dash 7 and several British Midland DC9s. The Birmingham-based 737 did a Saturday morning Reus, a lunchtime Jersey, an afternoon Alicante and then a night Gerona!

[rog747]

I wonder if Orion flew into Skaithos and Mykonos?

I am sure they flew into both, plus Santorini too (IIRC these were 737-200)

[rog747]

(tech stop QTV on the way home) QTV ??
not sure of that one

[DanAir89]

Flightrider

there used to be a book called “airport timetables uk 198x” which was the bible before FR24 - is this where your info comes from? I binned mine years ago but wish I had it handy to answer questions like this!

[DanAir89]

Looking at that 1988 list there are a few W rotations on there where BHX sees the MAN A300 fly in and out - I guess EMA likely saw those as well now and again too on peak dates/routes
They only flew 2 seasons 87 and 88

The 737's did loads of W flights in and out of - Bournemouth Blackpool Bristol Southend Teesside Bristol LBA LTN GLA

EMA had 737-200 and 300 series that flew to all or most of those places the A300's did - possibly to more smaller Greek islands too

thread drift but also Newcastle with w patterns. For example 733 on Saturdays in 1986 to alc, 737-200’s to mah on Mondays 86 -89 (?) and a 737-300 to ath (LGW W always G-BOLM in 88). Can’t remember KG going to Teeside in the late 80’s, was mainly Dan Air.

[Phileas Fogg]

(tech stop QTV on the way home) QTV ??
not sure of that one

QTV is in Texas!

[hatton]

1988 EMA programme for two based 737-300s:

Sat KG703 EMA-PMI 0710 / KG704 PMI-EMA 1350
Sat KG204 EMA-PMI 1530 / KG205 PMI-EMA 2115
Sat KG2861 EMA-GRO 2210 / KG2862 GRO-EMA 0310
Sun KG711 EMA-MUC 0825 / KG712 MUC-EMA 1310
Sun KG777 EMA-LEI 1415 / KG778 LEI-EMA 2050
Sun KG721 EMA-FAO 2150 / KG722 FAO-EMA 0430
Mon KG2407 EMA-CFU 1225 / KG2408 CFU-EMA 2015
Mon KG2603 EMA-ZTH 2135 / KG2604 ZTH-EMA 0645 (tech stop QTV on the way home)
Tue KG204 EMA-PMI 0940 / KG205 PMI-EMA 1535
Tue KG717 EMA-HER 1630 / KG718 HER-EMA 2345
Wed KG719 EMA-PMI 0055 / KG720 PMI-EMA 0635
Wed KG733 EMA-IBZ 1545 / KG734 IBZ-EMA 2135
Wed KG751 EMA-RHO 2245 / KG752 RHO-EMA 0810
Thu KG749 EMA-FAO 0935 / KG750 FAO-EMA 1615
Thu KG2881 EMA-GRO 1715 / KG2882 GRO-EMA 2215
Thu KG771 EMA-AGP 2330 / KG772 AGP-EMA 0600
Fri KG705 EMA-NAP 0710 / KG706 NAP-EMA 1450
Fri KG791 EMA-MAH 1545 / KG792 MAH-EMA 2130
Fri KG737 EMA-CFU 2240 / KG738 CFU-EMA 0625

Sat KG701 EMA-ALC 1040 / KG702 ALC-EMA 1650
Sat KG709 EMA-PMI 1800 / KG710 PMI-EMA 2345
Sun KG707 EMA-PMI 0040 / KG708 PMI-EMA 0625
Sun KG206 EMA-AGP 0905 / KG866 AGP-BHX 1540
Sun KG865 BHX-AGP 1700 / KG207 AGP-EMA 2340
Mon KG773 EMA-IBZ 0035 / KG774 IBZ-EMA 0625
Mon KG769 EMA-MAH 0910 / KG770 MAH-EMA 1450
Mon KG755 EMA-MAH 1550 / KG756 MAH-EMA 2125
Mon KG725 EMA-CFU 2330 / KG726 CFU-EMA 0710
Tue KG715 EMA-TFS 0900 / KG716 TFS-EMA 0545
Wed KG781 EMA-QTV 0800 / KG782 QTV-EMA 1310
Wed KG727 EMA-LCA 1415 / KG728 LCA-EMA 0055
Thu KG783 EMA-LEI 0800 / KG784 LEI-EMA 1430
Thu KG2877 EMA-REU 1515 / KG2878 REU-EMA 2020
Thu KG767 EMA-PMI 2130 / KG768 PMI-EMA 0315
Fri KG2605 EMA-CFU 1345 / KG2606 CFU-EMA 2130
Fri KG743 EMA-HER 2255 / KG744 HER-EMA 0825

Sun KG761 EMA-IBZ 1455 / KG762 IBZ-EMA 1345 ran on 737-200 as a W pattern off Birmingham

Quite a bit of other flying though - BHX/JER on Saturdays had an Orion 737, an Air UK Leisure 737-200, a Brymon Dash 7 and several British Midland DC9s. The Birmingham-based 737 did a Saturday morning Reus, a lunchtime Jersey, an afternoon Alicante and then a night Gerona!
Thank you very much.

[hatton]

I think Orion did flights to Gambia at some stage?

[Flightrider]

QTV was the old code for Venice Treviso.

Outside EMA, BHX, MAN and LGW 1985 had Orion flying:
BOH to MAH, FAO, CFU and PMI
STN to CFU
CWL to MAH, FAO
LBA to MAH, LEI, FAO, CFU
GLA to PMI, TFS, LEI, FAO, NAP, HER, CFU,
NCL to CFU and HER
BRS to MAH, TFS, LEI, FAO, NAP, RHO, CFU
LTN to LEI, FAO, HER, CFU

They were also doing MAN-TLV in -B1 powered 737-300...

Virtually all of the regional stuff had gone by 1988. Destinations in Greece for Horizon were RHO, CFU, HER, EFL, SKG, JSI and ZTH. For other tour operators including Owners Abroad group, they were also flying ATH, ZTH (the 733s looked like they could get back non-stop to LGW but nowhere further north, as refuelling stops at QTV were planned), JSI, PVK, JTR, EFL and SMI. Most of Grecian's flying was on the Paramount MD83s by then with Owners Abroad also using the Amber Air 737-200s at Manchester.

Looks like only Britannia and Dan-Air were serving JMK in 1988. And yes, there was a Friday night Newcastle-Athens W pattern from Gatwick on a 737-300.

Turning the clock back further, to 1982, one can't help but think that the BD9115 Alicante departure at 23:30 on a Sunday night must have been unpopular with the locals - in a 707. Nearest rival is probably the OM544 01:30 Sunday morning departure from Luton to Tel Aviv in a Boeing 720 - which I guess you could probably hear on the outskirts of Birmingham too!

But yes, I've got most of the ATUK books - missing a few along the way but have a pile of them.

[DanAir89]

QTV was the old code for Venice Treviso.

Outside EMA, BHX, MAN and LGW 1985 had Orion flying:
BOH to MAH, FAO, CFU and PMI
STN to CFU
CWL to MAH, FAO
LBA to MAH, LEI, FAO, CFU
GLA to PMI, TFS, LEI, FAO, NAP, HER, CFU,
NCL to CFU and HER
BRS to MAH, TFS, LEI, FAO, NAP, RHO, CFU
LTN to LEI, FAO, HER, CFU

They were also doing MAN-TLV in -B1 powered 737-300...

Virtually all of the regional stuff had gone by 1988. Destinations in Greece for Horizon were RHO, CFU, HER, EFL, SKG, JSI and ZTH. For other tour operators including Owners Abroad group, they were also flying ATH, ZTH (the 733s looked like they could get back non-stop to LGW but nowhere further north, as refuelling stops at QTV were planned), JSI, PVK, JTR, EFL and SMI. Most of Grecian's flying was on the Paramount MD83s by then with Owners Abroad also using the Amber Air 737-200s at Manchester.

Looks like only Britannia and Dan-Air were serving JMK in 1988. And yes, there was a Friday night Newcastle-Athens W pattern from Gatwick on a 737-300.

Turning the clock back further, to 1982, one can't help but think that the BD9115 Alicante departure at 23:30 on a Sunday night must have been unpopular with the locals - in a 707. Nearest rival is probably the OM544 01:30 Sunday morning departure from Luton to Tel Aviv in a Boeing 720 - which I guess you could probably hear on the outskirts of Birmingham too!

But yes, I've got most of the ATUK books - missing a few along the way but have a pile of them.


even more drift but I lived on the flight path to NCL in the 80’s and distinctly remember being shaken awake on Saturday mornings (1985 or 6 I think) at around 3am as an Air Atlantis 707 took off. Later through ATUk found out this was a regular flight for Airtours To FAO (presumably based on the model that Intasun started of old aircraft on night flights with limited catering = cheap holidays).

[hatton]

QTV was the old code for Venice Treviso.

Outside EMA, BHX, MAN and LGW 1985 had Orion flying:
BOH to MAH, FAO, CFU and PMI
STN to CFU
CWL to MAH, FAO
LBA to MAH, LEI, FAO, CFU
GLA to PMI, TFS, LEI, FAO, NAP, HER, CFU,
NCL to CFU and HER
BRS to MAH, TFS, LEI, FAO, NAP, RHO, CFU
LTN to LEI, FAO, HER, CFU

They were also doing MAN-TLV in -B1 powered 737-300...

Virtually all of the regional stuff had gone by 1988. Destinations in Greece for Horizon were RHO, CFU, HER, EFL, SKG, JSI and ZTH. For other tour operators including Owners Abroad group, they were also flying ATH, ZTH (the 733s looked like they could get back non-stop to LGW but nowhere further north, as refuelling stops at QTV were planned), JSI, PVK, JTR, EFL and SMI. Most of Grecian's flying was on the Paramount MD83s by then with Owners Abroad also using the Amber Air 737-200s at Manchester.

Looks like only Britannia and Dan-Air were serving JMK in 1988. And yes, there was a Friday night Newcastle-Athens W pattern from Gatwick on a 737-300.

Turning the clock back further, to 1982, one can't help but think that the BD9115 Alicante departure at 23:30 on a Sunday night must have been unpopular with the locals - in a 707. Nearest rival is probably the OM544 01:30 Sunday morning departure from Luton to Tel Aviv in a Boeing 720 - which I guess you could probably hear on the outskirts of Birmingham too!

But yes, I've got most of the ATUK books - missing a few along the way but have a pile of them.. Why did Orion stop the regional flights by 88?

[ATNotts]

QTV is in Texas!

I believe QTV was, at the time used for Treviso, not sure if that was official though. Were the IATA airfield "Q" codes unofficial? QLA is oft used for Lasham, but a Google search doesn't turn up any code for Lasham.

(Phileas beat me to it!!).

[Mooncrest]

Orion did have Flight Engineers, I think there 14 of us based at LGW or MAN, as for the A/C, they were based one at LGW and one at MAN and they would switch over each week so that some maint. could be attempted by Dan Air at LGW.
I personally have operated from MAN, EMA, LGW, BHX, LTN, STN and Liverpool to Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, France, Germany and all of the Islands.
Sadly it didn,t last long and was swallowed up by Britannia.

Thankyou, classic.

The Orion A300 never graced the LBA concrete. I'm not sure the 733 did either, at least not until the fleet had been subsumed into Britannia's, by which time the 733 visited at least once a week until Britannia disposed of the fleet.

Orion didn't have a base at LBA, 'W' patterns only, albeit in significant numbers.

[Phileas Fogg]

I believe QTV was, at the time used for Treviso, not sure if that was official though. Were the IATA airfield "Q" codes unofficial? QLA is oft used for Lasham, but a Google search doesn't turn up any code for Lasham.

(Phileas beat me to it!!).

Google for "iata code qla" or whatever code

[tonytales]

It a source of confusion for me to see Orion Airlines being a British Company as I worked for Orion Air in 1986 but it was the American one. At one time it operated about 85 cargo aircraft, B747-100, DC8-73, B727-100 and DC9-30 series. None of them had Orion Air on them for we operated for UPS, Emery and other companies. We did a brief stab at operating charter passenger B747-100 and even a b727-200. The B747 was fitted with 504 seats but was an ex-Pan Am'er and had come off lease from TWA. It was very knackered out and trying to find a substitute aircraft for it when it went AOG usually meant hiring two aircraft. Operating pax charters turned out to be a final blow. The Mother Company of Orion meanwhile put me on building and certifying a repair station in Greensboro which I did. It was TIMCO until HAECO bought it out and has done quite well since.

[unitedabx]

It a source of confusion for me to see Orion Airlines being a British Company as I worked for Orion Air in 1986 but it was the American one. At one time it operated about 85 cargo aircraft, B747-100, DC8-73, B727-100 and DC9-30 series. None of them had Orion Air on them for we operated for UPS, Emery and other companies. We did a brief stab at operating charter passenger B747-100 and even a b727-200. The B747 was fitted with 504 seats but was an ex-Pan Am'er and had come off lease from TWA. It was very knackered out and trying to find a substitute aircraft for it when it went AOG usually meant hiring two aircraft. Operating pax charters turned out to be a final blow. The Mother Company of Orion meanwhile put me on building and certifying a repair station in Greensboro which I did. It was TIMCO until HAECO bought it out and has done quite well since.
Tony,
ORION was a UK company, wholly owned by the holiday travel group HORIZON ( hence the name ). Later I believe a large UK Brewing Company bought some shares in it. All aircraft owned and operated by Orion.

[rog747]

Orion UK (KG) was formed by Horizon Midlands Holidays who had survived the Court Line crash in 1974 and went it alone, whereas Horizon Holidays and 4S Travel did not.
In 1989 Horizon Hols (they had dropped the Midlands by now) was bought by Thomson Hols and the KG fleet was merged into Britannia/BY who did not want the A300's and AFAIK did not operate them as BY flights.
The 737-300's were painted in BY livery but were not kept for that long.

There was a USA outfit also called Orion who leased some dodgy old 747-100 crates from Cargolux op'g for Airtours International and ICA (Barbados)
(Cargolux also leased 747-100 to Lion Air also op for Airtours)

Re QTV - Ah yes I should have got the ''TV'' as Treviso, I did wonder that ~~ Also back in the early 70's Reus was known as QGN (Tarragona)

[classic200]

The second A/C was painted just before everything fell to bits.

[Moneymatters]

Bass, who Eventually bought Horizon and then sold it to Thompson (Britannia) had the Hotel El Moresco, Hotel Indalo and Pueblo Indalo all in Mojacar. I think this helped focus the KG movements through Almeria. I remember the check in queue coming out through the doors of the tiny terminal.

[Moneymatters]

Sold to Thompson Holidays (Britannia Airways)

[rog747]

Yes Bass - that was them - I was wracking my brain on that one.
And Rank bought BCAL Charter (the ex Laker DC-10-10 charter operation)

[ATNotts]

Sold to Thompson Holidays (Britannia Airways)

A bit like "Stanste(a)d" there's no "p" in Thomson!! Sorry for excessive pedantry, life's a tad boring!

[Sotonsean]

Just to add a few photos of Orion Airways aircraft to remind us all what a nice livery the airline had.

Orion Airways Boeing 737-2Q8 G-BGTY

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x705/a624c1a93400eaf56f8169865a8c85a3_37a9a3d559e9188113b5c188720 897b1e4628970.jpg

Orion Airways Boeing 737-3T5 G-BLKB

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/boeing_737_3t5_orion_airways_jp6047271_9b260612b8a7ef5ab9e96 64374e542f792678b49.jpg

Orion Airways Airbus A300B4-2C G-BMZK

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/airbus_a300b4_2c_orion_airways_jp6090597_7dd9b3a1db19ee0c989 8d0126c490475435788ac.jpg

Orion Airways Boeing 737-2L9 G-GPAB owned by Guinness Peat Aviation and previously leased to Monarch as G-BISO at Luton Airport 25 May 1984.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1023x682/21896342295_e5e6c4c621_b_7553311b120208787238626b01ae5351be2 987d6.jpg

[Sotonsean]

If I remember rightly, Dan-Air only had two A300s at any time - NA was borrowed from Hapag-Lloyd and then NB and NC followed a year later to replace it.

Unless my memory is also playing up, only the first of the Orion A300s was painted and the second stayed in a hybrid Lufthansa scheme (which was pretty austere) from beginning to end. I think it was ZK which was painted - it looked great in Orion colours.

Dan Air (Hapag Lloyd) Airbus A300B4 G-BMNA. Leased from Hapag Lloyd, in service between April 1986 and December 1986. G-BMNA wore a hybrid livery of Dan Air and Hapag Lloyd.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x501/dan_bmna_pedro_aragao_995c1da052754790053419c197a28d8b59da27 8b.jpg

Dan Air Airbus A300B4 G-BMNB. Leased from Hapag Lloyd, in service with Dan Air between December 1986 and June 1990.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x534/dan_bmnb_eddy_cuperus_3776f0f99dd18e10748815ffe4af2f52586a9d 64.jpg

Dan Air Airbus A300B4 G-BMNC. Leased from Hapag Lloyd, in service with Dan Air between March 1988 and April 1991.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x543/dan_bmnc2_d930df8b4e7304fa7f5e473f8dddacd79401af0b.jpg

Orion Airways Airbus A300B4-203 G-BMZL in the hybrid "Lufthansa" livery. Former Lufthansa, delivered to Orion Airways in April 1987, left the fleet in January 1989 after the takeover by Thomson.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/319x213/12945910164_5677e34fa2_n_ffc6b6c528212a3190f2c531583c11f2f11 a569e.jpg

Orion Airways Airbus A300B4-203 G-BMZK was painted in the full livery. Former Lufthansa, delivered to Orion Airways in May 1987, left the fleet in January 1989 after the takeover by Thomson.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/airbus_a300b4_2c_orion_airways_jp6090597_0de0642208417d32f40 23535672b42cb467655ed.jpg

[Sotonsean]

Yes Bass - that was them - I was wracking my brain on that one.
And Rank bought BCAL Charter (the ex Laker DC-10-10 charter operation)

After Laker went bankrupt in February 1982 British Caledonian Airways purchased two former Laker DC10-10 aircraft and initially painted them in the full British Caledonian Airways livery, the titles eventually changed to British Caledonian Charter, then BCA Charter. The two former Laker Airways DC10-10's G-GFAL and G-GSKY we're re-registered G-BZJD and G-BJZE respectively.

BCAL Charter was initially conceived in March 1982 after the sudden demise of Laker Airways which left a large gap in the UK inclusive tour/charter market. The airline was a joint set up between British Caledonian Airways and the Rank Organisation which had it's interests firmly established in the travel industry with it's own tour operators Blue Sky Travel/Holidays, Wings Holidays, Ellerman Travel and OSL Holidays.

However it was not long before British Caledonian Airways realised that it's own high quality scheduled product and image was being somewhat tarnished by the more utility charter product in addition to the general public not being able to differentiate between the two companies. It was therefore decided to make slight changes to the charter company and livery by introducing "BCA Charter" decals to the aircraft and outlining the golden St Andrews lion rampant tail logo with a white shield.

This lasted only a short time when Rank Organisation and British Caledonian Airways completely rebranded the charter arm as Cal Air International with a brand new livery still incorporating the rampant lion but in red. After the rebranding the new airline acquired a third ex Laker Airways DC10-10 and re-registered as G-GCAL.

In August 1988 with the takeover of British Caledonian Airways by British Airways the Rank Organisation decided to buy the 50% share of the company previously owned by BCAL making it a wholly owned company.

After the Rank Organisation held full control of Cal Air International it was decided to change it's name and livery. The airline was totally rebranded again with a modified livery and renamed Novair International Airways. Three brand new Boeing 737-400 aircraft were added to the fleet complimenting the existing three DC10-10's.

Novair International Airways had bases at Glasgow, London Gatwick and Manchester.

The company stopped operating and closed down for good in early 1990 after the Rank Organisation could not find a suitable buyer.

Both DC10-10's G-BJZD and G-BJZE went to FedEx whilst DC10-10 G-GCAL went to Orbis International as a flying eye hospital. The Boeing 737-400's went to British Midland.

Here are a few photos of DC10-10 G-GSKY from it's early beginnings with Laker Airways through to it's career as G-BJZE with British Caledonian Charter, BCA Charter, Cal Air International and Novair International Airways. DC10-10 G-GSKY was originally delivered to Laker Airways in March 1979.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x679/6263473146_f9595350dc_b_105e633eb43ffd4b0237642c76c494c1acbe fdee.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x670/british_caledonian_charter_dc_10_10_5d3f72d7540a6161c98521d9 ed44b72e32293b65.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/32783427436_9787164ca0_b_3b5448295b5bbdc9d6453570bd7f91af7fa c8c4c.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/500x311/33285813808_401e315b0d_d0ce80f366a370267365f551edbd5c435a338 bf1.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x676/35384953525_15ff704fa2_b_96fd323dd939bb1fc453574264509c77e34 c4b32.jpg

[rog747]

When first delivered to BCAL for summer 1982 both the ex Laker DC-10-10's (now ZD and ZE) wore full BCAL livery with no reference to ''Charter''...

Then the titles were changed to British Caledonian Charter.
BCAL still on the engines.

Later saw the the L dropped off the BCAL on the engines nacelles - hence just 'BCA'

The last change under BCAL/Rank ownership was a full renaming and titles changed to BCA Charter and the a tail Lion enclosed in a white shield surround.

Followed on by the Rank takeover and Calair was formed....

[Musket90]

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1064x798/p4180523_869046ef89e21c8dcb09a0d60adb27967fe3808a.jpg
Gatwick June 1987

[Sotonsean]

When first delivered to BCAL for summer 1982 both the ex Laker DC-10-10's (now ZD and ZE) wore full BCAL livery with no reference to ''Charter''...

Then the titles were changed to British Caledonian Charter.
BCAL still on the engines.

Later saw the the L dropped off the BCAL on the engines nacelles - hence just 'BCA'

The last change under BCAL/Rank ownership was a full renaming and titles changed to BCA Charter and the a tail Lion enclosed in a white shield surround.

Followed on by the Rank takeover and Calair was formed....

Rog

If you re-read my first sentence I actually stated that the two former Laker Airways DC10-10's we're initially painted in the full British Caledonian Airways livery with no reference to charter 😉

Regards Sean

[rog747]

Yes of course - I was merely following on by doing today's Home-Schooling lock-down history lesson LOL

[dixi188]

I was working at BCAL when the charter airline was set up. I seem to recall that the 4 ex Laker BAC 1-11 srs 300s were also used for a while.

[Musket90]

Correct dixi

G-AVBW became G-BKAU
VBX became KAV
VBY became KAW
VYZ became KAX

[Sotonsean]

The four former Laker Airways BAC1-11-300's were purchased by British Caledonian Airways on the 01 April 1982. The four aircraft we're registered to British Caledonian Airways as Musket90 rightly points out.

I'm assuming that all four aircraft we're eventually repainted into the full British Caledonian Airways livery as I can't remember seeing any BAC1-11's at London Gatwick Airport during the summer of 1982 still in the former Laker Airways colour's.

The four former Laker Airways BAC1-11-300's didn't last long with British Caledonian Airways and all four we're eventually sold between September and November 1983.

Here is a photo of the former Laker Airways BAC1-11-300 G-AVBW taken on the 01 April 1982 at Manchester Airport, the day it was re-registered as G-BKAU with the Laker details painted over.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/6788783605_2a645098d0_b_799911eaae142d5f0845278fe7ae5b02944d 94a7.jpg
​​​​​​
Although I don't have much else to go on but I'm uploading some details of the four former Laker Airways BAC1-11-300's after they were sold by British Caledonian Airways between September and November 1983. As was the case with many former BAC1-11's, they eventually found themselves in Nigeria operated by Okada Air.
​
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/958x665/gbavifcobrcv831101b_eeee81e33f10a255bb5260f68e4a3b1de96c5cbc .jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/950x658/gbavifcobrcv830927a_e346d3c30541b4da400694930389bcbe71db4582 .jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/955x658/gbavifcobrcv831112_1__6f307499727d68eb8c93f3230362743fdcc1f2 d3.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/953x660/gbavifcobrcv830927b_b093ab23f6c93daa56ae0741d6bbd355ada1ac50 .jpg

[Sotonsean]

Commemorative stamps for the first flights of the two former Laker Airways DC10-10's acquired by British Caledonian Airways in 1982 and re-registered as G-BJZD (G-GFAL) and G-BJZE (G-GSKY).

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/946x667/gbavifcobrcv820428_b85d167142d6ea68f5f09eb4141a45bb0355b636. jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x663/gbavifcobrcv820403b_66baff1dc4e1a3b70947b8a8d8c94ceb14480f08 .jpg

[dixi188]

Since we started with A300s, the ex Laker ones were repainted and had an internal refit at BCAL before going to Air Jamaica. IIRC.

[Jn14:6]

I thought this thread was about Orion!

[Phileas Fogg]

And regarding the ex-Laker 1-11's of which there were five, not four with G-ATPK being sold before the demise, the talk of the time was that BCal never intended to keep them, that they merely bought them up cheap, as if at a bankruptcy auction, to sell them on at a profit, that they never intended upon keeping them.

But what has all this to do with Orion Airways and A300's?

[Flightrider]

But what has all this to do with Orion Airways and A300's?

Absolutely nothing, but it's a cracking thread drift. Quite a few familiar names in the BCal lists there - and of the two DC-10 F/Os, there might have been a tenuous link later in life!

[Matt995]

Flightrider, you don't happen to have the summer 1988 BHX Orion Flight Timetable by any chance? I know the 2 remaining B737-2T5's, G-BHVH & G-BKHO were based, both in a revised colour scheme. Thanks :ok:

[GBYAJ]

Flightrider, you don't happen to have the summer 1988 BHX Orion Flight Timetable by any chance? I know the 2 remaining B737-2T5's, G-BHVH & G-BKHO were based, both in a revised colour scheme. Thanks :ok:
On a Monday, one went to Mahon and did a W to NCL if that helps, a few gaps still to fill in!!!

always wondered why the scheme was revised for these 2, any ideas?

[Jn14:6]

Possibly following lease to America West, just paint over their stripes?

[Matt995]

On a Monday, one went to Mahon and did a W to NCL if that helps, a few gaps still to fill in!!!

always wondered why the scheme was revised for these 2, any ideas?

Thanks, you don't know what the flight number was or the times? Long journey for the BHX flight crew to position to/from NCL, I wonder if they flew up or had to travel by road?

Possibly following lease to America West, just paint over their stripes?

I think that was it, 3 B737-200 aircraft G-BGTY, G-BHVH, and G-BKHO were all leased to American West over the winter periods, so on their return they kept the white at the bottom of the fuselage, and the stripes were around the middle of the fuselage, so just changed them from blue to the Orion colour scheme thus saving them money! They never change the livery for the B737-300s and A300's.

[Mooncrest]

What did Orion do for maintenance on all their fleet ? Was everything done in-house or a mix of their own line stations and base/hangar inputs with a third party ?

[GBYAJ]

Thanks, you don't know what the flight number was or the times? Long journey for the BHX flight crew to position to/from NCL, I wonder if they flew up or had to travel by road?



I think that was it, 3 B737-200 aircraft G-BGTY, G-BHVH, and G-BKHO were all leased to American West over the winter periods, so on their return they kept the white at the bottom of the fuselage, and the stripes were around the middle of the fuselage, so just changed them from blue to the Orion colour scheme thus saving them money! They never change the livery for the B737-300s and A300's.


I will have a look but threw most of my timetables out many years ago pre the internet thinking no one else would ever be interested!

I think Orion had a small/light aircraft that used to ferry the crew around as it would arrive at NCL before the 737.


have a look on the orion airways Facebook group and there are some pictures of the crew positioning around the country in it.

[Mooncrest]

I think Orion owned, or had use of, a Cessna 404 Titan for crew transport. It certainly had their logo on the tailfin.

[GBYAJ]

I think Orion owned, or had use of, a Cessna 404 Titan for crew transport. It certainly had their logo on the tailfin.
ta, I remember seeing the kg logo on it.

Bit of registration nostalgia, in 87 bizarrely for the time there were 2 w patterns into ncl on a Monday from Mahon. Orion and Monarch with 737-200’s. Despite all the brand new -300’s they had between them we only got to see BHVH and BKHO from
Orion and Monarch BMON and DFUB.

In 88, the Monarch flight was planned to be a 757 and I was booked it on it with my parents. Sadly, the excitement of going on a relatively large and brand new 757 (had to wait until 1999 to get on G-BYAJ and 2006 to go on Monarch) was replaced by going on one of the oldest and smallest charter aircraft at the time, a BIA 1-11 400 when the series eventually started!

[Matt995]

I will have a look but threw most of my timetables out many years ago pre the internet thinking no one else would ever be interested!

looking back at my old flight notes I kept back in 1988, looks like if was flight number KG401/2 arrived NCL 1330, departed 1430

I think Orion owned, or had use of, a Cessna 404 Titan for crew transport. It certainly had their logo on the tailfin.

yes it was G-BKWA a Cessna 404 Titan!

[mustbeaboeing]

The same Cessna 404 was previously registered G-BELV and was operated by Executive Express at Luton.
They had a pilot based at EMA for the purpose of flying it.
Out of interest the same company operated G-BRIT. The Cessna 421C which was operated on behalf of Britannia Airways, although it was based at Luton.

[Flightrider]

Flightrider, you don't happen to have the summer 1988 BHX Orion Flight Timetable by any chance? I know the 2 remaining B737-2T5's, G-BHVH & G-BKHO were based, both in a revised colour scheme. Thanks https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

Yes, I will have - will take me a few days to dig it out but I'll definitely have it. I think I've still got an Orion full A4 line-by-line flying programme for a Summer 1988 week somewhere as well - I'll have a look. Part of a pile of stuff BoeingBoy gave me on what was my first ever jumpseat landing on an Orion 737-300 into MAN that summer.

[Matt995]

Yes, I will have - will take me a few days to dig it out but I'll definitely have it. I think I've still got an Orion full A4 line-by-line flying programme for a Summer 1988 week somewhere as well - I'll have a look. Part of a pile of stuff BoeingBoy gave me on what was my first ever jumpseat landing on an Orion 737-300 into MAN that summer.

Wow, that would be fantastic Flightrider if you have any Orion timetables from summer1988! - I bet the jumpseat landing was an experience!

[Flightrider]

The 1988 Newcastle schedule does indeed have a Monarch 757 listed as operating MAH-NCL-MAH for Horizon Holidays on Mondays - MON489 arriving at 1535 and MON488 departing at 1705. I guess this must have been changed in a late tour operator chop-around. There were two British Island 1-11 flights from LGW (BIA2005 at 0630 which w'd to Glasgow for Horizon and BIA2701 at 1045 which did a W pattern to somewhere not listed at the time of publication of the Airport Timetables UK. Horizon obviously had quite some Monday Mahon flying - there was a Novair DC10 from Gatwick, an Orion A300 and Dan-Air 727 from Manchester, a Monarch 737-300 from Glasgow (back in the day when there were three based there, with Monarch doing virtually everyone's Glasgow flying) and many more.


The Orion 737 programme at Birmingham for 1988:


Aircraft 1

Sat KG817 BHX 0630 - REU - 1135 BHX KG818 Horizon

Sat KG2207 BHX 1300 - JER - 1540 JER KG2208 Lewis's

Sat KG875 BHX 1715 - ALC - 2305 BHX KG876 Horizon

Sun KG2465 BHX 0005 - GRO - 0505 BHX KG2466 Intasun

Sun KG807 BHX 0645 - LEI - 1320 MAN KG920 Horizon

Sun KG919 MAN 1420 - LEI - 2055 BHX KG808 Horizon

Sun KG827 BHX 2230 - GRO - 0330 BHX KG828 Horizon

Mon KG835 BHX 0810 - MAH - 2040 BHX KG836 Horizon

Mon KG2417 BHX 2230 - ADB - 0740 BHX KG2417 Falcon/Owners Abroad

Tue KG7673 BHX 0950 - GUT - 1300 BHX KG7674 (guess Orion must have had the MOD trooping flight contract for Gutersloh)

Tue KG801 BHX 1400 - TFS - 2345 BHX KG802 Horizon

Wed KG809 BHX 0045 - PMI - 0630 BHX KG810 Horizon

Wed KG803 BHX 0800 - ALC - 1400 MAN KG992 Horizon

Wed KG991 MAN 1500 - ALC 2150 BHX KG804 Horizon

Wed KG212 BHX 2250 - IBZ - 0440 BHX KG213 Orion scheduled service

Thu KG811 BHX 0940 - LEI - 1620 BHX KG812 Horizon

Thu KG837 BHX 1730 - AGP - 2359 KG838 Horizon

Fri KG819 BHX 0710 - MAH - 1300 BHX KG820 Horizon

Fri KG877 BHX 1400 - SKG - 2135 BHX KG878 Horizon

Fri KG847 BHX 2230 - CFU - 0615 BHX KG848 Horizon


Aircraft 2

Sat KG2413 BHX 0705 - PMI - 1250 BHX KG2414 Redwing

Sat KG208 BHX 1435 - PMI - 2020 BHX KG209 Orion scheduled service

Sat KG2601 BHX 2130 - ZTH - 0635 BHX KG2602 Sunmed (tech stop at QTV on the way home)

Sun KG212 BHX 0755 - IBZ - 1345 EMA KG762 Orion scheduled service/Horizon

Sun KG761 EMA 1455 - IBZ - 2045 BHX KG213 Horizon/Orion scheduled service

Sun KG829 BHX 2145 - FAO - 0430 BHX KG830 Horizon

Mon KG813 BHX 0940 - CFU - 1745 BHX KG814 Horizon

Mon KG2411 BHX 1900 - GRO - 0005 MAN KG2410 Redwing/Owners Abroad

Tue KG2409 MAN 0105 - GRO - 0610 BHX KG2412 Redwing/Owners Abroad

Tue KG833 BHX 0720 - AYT - 1705 BHX KG834 Horizon

Tue KG831 BHX 1820 - HER - 0335 BHX KG832 Horizon

Wed KG867 BHX 0700 - QTV - 1200 BHX KG868 Horizon

Wed KG843 BHX 1300 - RHO - 2220 BHX KG844 Horizon

Wed KG839 BHX 2345 - CFU - 0730 BHX KG840 Horizon

Thu KG208 BHX 0900 - PMI - 1445 BHX KG209 Orion scheduled service

Thu KG2891 BHX 1625 - FAO - 2300 BHX KG2892 tour operator not listed

Fri KG845 BHX 0015 - AGP - 0650 BHX KG845 Horizon

Fri KG825 BHX 0905 - HER - 1840 BHX KG826 Horizon

Fri KG815 BHX 1945 - HER - 0500 BHX KG816 Horizon


There was also an Orion A300 PMI-BHX-PMI on Saturdays and a 737-300 AGP-BHX-AGP on Sundays.


As well as the relative oddity of the Orion 737 flying a Jersey roundtrip on Saturdays (I think Britannia did this for a year or two afterwards and seem to recall some Air UK Leisure 737-200 Jersey flying not long after that), the Birmingham 1988 Saturday schedule also has the Brymon Twin Otter operating a charter to Bembridge (with a W pattern to Luton!) for Warner Holidays. I bet that's a departure point that hasn't been seen on the Birmingham Airport screens ever since!

[Matt995]

thanks alot Flightrider, quite amazing to see how many flights were not actually for Horizon!!

I believe there was also an A300 flight to Palma on Tuesdays, KG 861/2, arrive 1320, depart 1500

So many UK charter airlines in those days!!

[Moneymatters]

It was based in ABZ and (I think) operated by Peregrine (Andy Hornblower). I was based in ABZ working for BCalH before joining Orion

[TLoraine]

There is also an Orion Airways facebook group (76761820155) which may be able to help provide more info.