Orion Airways
Orion Airways was a British charter airline founded in 1979 by Horizon Travel to support its growing package holiday business. Based at East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington, the airline quickly expanded its operations to include scheduled services alongside its core charter flights. Orion primarily served popular holiday destinations across Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, catering to the booming demand for affordable leisure travel during the late 1970s and 1980s.
The airline operated a fleet that included Boeing 737-200s, Boeing 737-300s, and Airbus A300 aircraft. Its main hubs were located at East Midlands, Birmingham International, London Gatwick, and Manchester airports, allowing it to serve a wide range of UK travelers. Orion Airways was known for its distinctive livery and reliable service, which helped it build a loyal customer base during its decade of operation.
In 1989, Orion Airways was merged into Britannia Airways, marking the end of its independent operations. The merger was part of a broader consolidation in the UK travel industry, with Orion’s parent company, Horizon Travel, having been acquired by Bass Brewery and InterContinental Hotels Group. Though Orion ceased to exist as a standalone brand, its legacy lived on through Britannia and later Thomsonfly, contributing to the evolution of British leisure aviation.
Keep hydrated on the move with one of our growing range of thermos cups, showcasing airline logos of years gone by.
Each steel cup has a 455ml (16oz) capacity, a screw-top flip lid and separate flip handle for ease of carrying. Two logos are printed on the cup.
We recommend these cups are cleaned by hand with some hot water and soapy liquid - dishwasher detergents will cause the image to fade over time and is not recommended.
If you’re one of those that still love the smell and touch of a real book, then our exclusive airline tail bookmarks are for you.
Made in Britain, these attractive tails simply clip over the current page you’re reading, providing a reminder of where you are in the latest Mills and Boon….
They’re made from 0.7mm metal and have the tail design printed on both sides. Measures approx. 44 × 72mm.
Choose from the designs below and make your selection from the drop down list.
We’ve taken some of our popular RetroJet designs and popped them on this glass chopping board.
Available in two different sizes, these are great for the flight attendant or aviation enthusiast in your life. Four silicon feet attached underneath to protect your kitchen workshop. Design is pressed to rear, so any cuts or scrapes won’t damage the design. Print quality (and the chopping mat) is superb - even if we do say so ourselves!
Swill under tap or wipe clean after use.
Whether it’s a picnic in the park or a day at the beach, you’ll find this airline inspired insulated bottle cooler perfect for carrying your choice of fizz!
Made from soft neoprene, it’ll also protect your bottle against any bumps along the way. It features a carry handle and is printed on both sides.
Size: 360 × 120mm.
Keep hydrated on the move with one of our growing range of water bottles, showcasing airline logos of years gone by.
Each aluminium bottle has a 850ml capacity, a screw-top flip lid and a large carabiner for ease of carrying. Two designs are printed on the bottle.
Whilst these are 100% dishwasher safe, certain detergents will cause the design to fade quicker than handwashing - therefore, we recommend some hot water and soapy liquid (old skool!).
Depending on stock levels, the rubber grip on the lid will either be grey (as shown) or black.
Jazz up that business suit and look the part with these retro airline logo lanyards.
Measures 20x480mm from the tip of the clasp to the to the centre of the lanyard (the bit where your neck goes) and has a breakaway clasp fitted.
Now you’ll definitely be able to spot your Samsonite on the conveyor with our exclusive strap.
Made from premium quality polyester and 50mm in height, it easily expands up to 1700mm (1.7m) - ideal for those that don’t travel light! Printed one sided all along the strap.
Comes with a strong and fully functional plastic buckle and fastening clip so the strap can be used to it’s full potential.
The latest edition to our lost airline tail range is this rather nice fridge magnet.
Measuring 84 (w) x 70mm (h), this metal magnet will hold the odd takeaway menu firmly in position until you decide to make your choice on Saturday evening.
It’s available in all the usual tails we’ve designed, so just choose from the illustrations below and leave the rest to us.
As with the other items in our tail range, these are made in the UK.
Give a touch of class to your boring keys with these round keyrings.
As per our popular pin badges, these are sublimation printed meaning the design is tough, durable and waterproof (your car keys might not be though...).
Made from thick metal, this gives a high quality feel - also presented in a gift box, suitable for presents (although you'd be mad to give this away!).
These keyrings are not endorsed or associated with any current or past airline/manufacturer.
Give a touch of class to your boring keys with these bottle opener keyrings.
As per our popular pin badges, these are sublimation printed meaning the design is tough, durable and waterproof (your car keys might not be though...).
Made from thick metal, this gives a high quality feel - also presented in a gift box, suitable for presents (although you'd be mad to give this away!).
These keyrings are not endorsed or associated with any current or past airline/manufacturer.
Made from the same material as our Retrotags, this pins are great for brightening up a boring corporate lanyard or jacket. Supplied with butterfly clasp fastening for a secure fit.
Measuring 25mm in diameter, each pin is a dye sublimation print to metal meaning these are hard wearing, durable and waterproof.
These badges are not endorsed or associated with any current or past airline.
Bring a touch of class to your favourite bottle with our airline retro themed bottle stoppers.
Made from heavy, solid metal, it has rubber sides to create a full airtight seal. 90mm in height and comes complete with presentation box.
Printed one side.
Now here’s something you’re unlikely to find anywhere else. We’ve taken our popular freestanding airline tail, increased the size a little and added four prongs making this either a key or dog lead holder - or both!
It measures 190(w) x 180(h) with the prongs also printed to match the tail when they’re bent into position - we do that, all you need to do is to decide where to put it.
Fixing to wall
Recommended fixings are 3M Command Strips (not supplied). Only use doubled sided tape if you’re certain you don’t want to remove the tail as this is likely to remove paper, plaster and paint with the tail being bent when prising from the wall. Test wall covering in an inconspicuous area before fitting.
Here's something to brighten up that dull magnolia wall, our exclusive range of aviation clocks.
Measuring 280mm in diameter, each design is pressed onto aluminium and then mounted onto a 3mm MDF board. The result is a rigid clock that's ready to mount to your wall of choice. The clock motion is smooth with very little noise.
To reduce the likelihood of any damage in transit, the three hands are supplied separately and just need popping on when you're ready to hang. Takes 1 x AA battery, not supplied.
We know you love our freestanding metal tails, so we’ve shrunk them slightly and made them into a rather attractive double sided luggage tag.
At 1mm in thickness, these are sturdy tags that will distinguish your luggage on the carousel from anyone else’s. Pop them on your suitcase, holdall or rucksack. The reverse of the tag mirrors the front, just like a real life airline tail. Designs are heat pressed and can easily stand a baggage handler with a grudge…..
Finished tag comes complete with metal strap with screw thread to secure.
Introducing our new range of metal coasters.
Measuring 90mm x 90mm in size, they come with cork pads on the bottom to protect your antique mahogany coffee table. Just like our airline tails, these are made in the UK and are heat pressed meaning they won’t flake or peel - highly durable and wipe clean.
Multibuy saving - applied at checkout
Two for £6.50 (save 70p)
Four for £13.00 (save £1.40)
A Retro Logo exclusive! Embellish your suitcase, laptop or anything else that needs this attractive vinyl.
Showcasing the Boeing 737-300 aircraft in various liveries. Drawn by ourselves, this is a digital print to outdoor rated, weather resistant vinyl.
Measurements: 190 × 95mm
Custom sizes available - just drop us a line!
A Retro Logo exclusive! Embellish your suitcase, laptop or anything else that needs this attractive vinyl.
Showcasing the Boeing 737-200 aircraft in various liveries. Drawn by ourselves, this is a digital print to outdoor rated, weather resistant vinyl.
Measurements: 190 × 95mm
Custom sizes available - just drop us a line!
Another Retro Logo exclusive!
Introducing our freestanding airline tails showcasing logos of yesteryear. Measuring 140mm in height, each one is heat pressed and comes complete with a stand, ideal for popping on the mantlepiece to show off to the Jones' next door!
Material is sourced from a supplier in Yorkshire with logos designed and pressed here in Birmingham - you're getting something made 100% in Great Britain! The perfect gift for the aviation enthusiast in your life.
Please note: these tails are NOT manufactured from pieces of old fuselage
We've taken the designs from our popular airline tail stands and shrunk them right down to create these great metal pin badges - ideal for jazzing up that boring corporate lanyard and showing your appreciation to the great airlines of yesteryear.
Each one is handmade to order and comes complete with a butterfly fastener on the rear for a secure fit.
Badges measure 26mm (w) x 22mm (h).
Oh, made in Britain too!
Bespoke and custom tail pins
If we’ve already created a bespoke tail for you for another item such as freestanding tail or luggage tag, choose ‘Bespoke - you already have my artwork’. You’ll pay the cost of a standard tail as we don’t need to redraw anything
Based on an original design, this replica measures 90mm x 90mm in size and comes with cork pads on the bottom to protect your antique mahogany coffee table. Just like our airline tails, these are made in the UK and are heat pressed meaning they won’t flake or peel - highly durable and wipe clean.
Multibuy saving - applied at checkout
Two for £6.50 (save 70p)
Four for £13.00 (save £1.40)