Orion Air (United States)

Orion Lift Service dba Orion Air was a US charter and contract freight airline founded on the earlier Zantop Airways by parent company The Aviation Group (TAG), originally to fly Gulfstream G-159 freighters. In October 1981 it was certificated to fly Boeing 727s on behalf of United Parcel Service (UPS). Orion grew to a fleet of over 50 commercial jets, including Boeing 747s, flying for several package express/air freight operators. But in 1988, Orion lost much of its business when UPS brought air operations in-house. In 1989, Orion flew charters under its own name only to have its tour operator contract cancelled. Meanwhile, Emery Worldwide, Orion's remaining freight contract, announced it would also eventually move most flying in-house. Orion ended operations at the end of 1989; remaining aircraft transferred to Ryan International Airlines.

Zantop Airways was a Part 298 (or air taxi) carrier started in 1968 by Lloyd Zantop, one of the brothers who founded the separate carriers Zantop Air Transport and Zantop International Airlines. The Aviation Group (TAG) bought Zantop Airways in 1981. The underlying corporation dated to 1948; prior to Zantop Airways it was Wayne County Flying Service.

In 1983, TAG bought another carrier, General Aviation Enterprises, to which the original Orion G-159 business was transferred. General Aviation briefly became a subsidiary of Orion Air in 1987, before being sold to Kitty Hawk Group in 1988, becoming Kitty Hawk Air Cargo. Another TAG spinoff was the aircraft maintenance organization TIMCO, originally created with Orion in mind.