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May 28--Orion Air Group, an aviation company based in Yorktown, is consolidating its Virginia operations at a new complex at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, Gov. Bob McDonnell's office announced yesterday.
Orion will open a new hangar and office in the Air Commerce Park in Newport News, retaining 57 jobs in York County and Newport News and creating 51 new jobs within 12 months, McDonnell's office said.
A phone message left with a company spokeswoman was not returned, and attempts to reach an executive with Orion were unsuccessful yesterday. In a statement, McDonnell said recent contracts resulted in the company outgrowing its current office.
Orion Air Group owns and operates more than $150 million worth of corporate aircraft and is the world's largest operator of the Bombardier Global Express business jet. The company also leases and sells aircraft and provides maintenance and logistics support to third-party aircraft.
Orion's clients include the U.S. Army and Navy, and the company has a government contract backlog of nearly $225 million, according to its website.
The company operates from eight locations in the United States and abroad, with offices in South Carolina, Arizona, Maryland, West Virginia and Nevada. -- John Reid Blackwell
