Editing Sabena (section)

==History==

===1923–1939: Beginnings===
[[File:Handley Page W.8b of Sabena transferring cargo - LBS SR01-01982.tif|thumb|left|A Sabena [[Handley Page Type W]] unloads cargo in Switzerland in 1924.]]
Sabena began operations on 23 May 1923 as the national carrier of Belgium.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Aviation |first=David W. |last=Wragg |isbn=9780850451634 |edition=first |publisher=Osprey |year=1973 |page=231}}</ref> The airline was created by the [[Federal Government of Belgium|Belgian Government]] with help of the Devriendt Family after its predecessor [[SNETA]] (''Syndicat national pour l'étude des transports aériens'', National Syndicate for the Study of Aerial Transports) - formed in 1919 to pioneer commercial aviation in Belgium - ceased operations. Sabena operated its first commercial flight from Haren [[Haren Airport|Brussels]] to [[London]] (England) on 1 July 1923, via [[Ostend]]. Services to [[Rotterdam]] (Netherlands) and [[Strasbourg]] (France) were launched on 1 April 1924. The Strasbourg service was extended to [[Basel]] (Switzerland) on 10 June 1924. [[Amsterdam]] (Netherlands) was added on 1 September 1924, and [[Hamburg]] (Germany) followed on 1 May 1929 via [[Antwerp]], [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Essen]].

====Belgian Congo====
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2017}}
[[File:AL79-123 Refueling at Zinder Niger (14284829346).jpg|thumb|A [[Fokker F.VII]] in Sabena colours]]
When Sabena was created, the airline was partly funded by Belgians in the [[Belgian Congo]] [[colony]] who had lost their air service, an experimental passenger and cargo company ([[Ligne Aerienne du Roi Albert|LARA]]) between [[Léopoldville]], [[Lisala]], and [[Kisangani|Stanleyville]] a year earlier. They expected the new Belgian national airline to fill this gap. On 12 February 1925, Sabena aviators [[Edmond Thieffry]], Léopold Roger and Joseph De Brycker succeeded in the feat of flying their Handley Page W8 F biplane from [[Brussels]], capital of Belgium, to [[Kinshasa|Léopoldville]] (now Kinshasa), capital of the [[Belgian Congo]], pioneering a long haul route for passengers traveling between Europe and Africa, and [[Albert I of Belgium|King Albert]]'s daughter, [[Marie-José of Belgium|Princess Marie-José]] flew the route on April 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.air-journal.fr/2011-04-03-le-3-avril-1925-dans-le-ciel-arrivee-du-princesse-marie-jose-a-leopoldville-527640.html|title=Le 3 avril 1925 dans le ciel : Arrivée du Princesse Marie-José à Léopoldville (April 3, 1925 in the sky: Arrival of Princess Marie-José in Léopoldville) |website=air-journal.fr.}}.</ref> Throughout its history, Sabena had a long tradition of service to African destinations and for a long time, these were the only profitable routes served by the airline.

Sabena used land planes for its Congo operations and a program of aerodrome construction was initiated in the Congo. This was finished in 1926 and Sabena immediately began flights within the Belgian colony, the main route being [[Boma, Kongo Central|Boma]]-[[Léopoldville]]-[[Élisabethville]], a 2,288&nbsp;km (1,422&nbsp;mi) route over dense [[jungle]]. First, flights were operated with [[De Havilland DH.50]]s, although these were quickly replaced by the larger [[Handley Page Type W|Handley Page W.8f]] which had three engines and offered ten seats.

By 1931 Sabena's fleet, including the aircraft used on the Congo network, totalled 43 aircraft. Its mainstay type was the [[Fokker F.VII]]B with a lesser number of smaller Fokker VIIA and 14 Handley-Page types. It also flew British [[Westland IV|Westland Wessex]] aircraft.

Sabena occasionally flew to tropical Africa, Belgium's Congo colony, but mostly these aircraft were shipped out. There was no direct flight yet between Belgium and the colony. As the 1930s progressed, Sabena cooperated with [[Air France]] and [[Deutsche Luft Hansa]], which also had interests in routes to destinations across Africa.

Sabena's first long-haul flight to the Congo occurred on 12 February 1935 and took five and a half days, for which Sabena used a Fokker F-VII/3m aircraft. The following year, Sabena purchased the [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.73]] airliner. With a speed of 300&nbsp;km/h (200&nbsp;mph), it reduced the journey time to only four days, and the Sabena service ran on alternate weeks to an [[Air Afrique]] service.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}
[[File:Savoia Marchetti S.73.jpg|thumb|A [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.73]] from Sabena, similar to the one that crashed in the [[1935 SABENA Savoia-Marchetti S.73 crash|1935 crash]].]]

====Expansion in Europe====
In Europe, Sabena opened services to [[Copenhagen]] and [[Malmö]] in 1931 and a route to Berlin was initiated in 1932. The mainstay pre-war airliner that Sabena used in Europe was the successful [[Junkers Ju 52]]/3m airliner. The airline's pre-war routes covered almost 6,000&nbsp;km within Europe. While the Brussels [[Haren Airport]] was Sabena's main base, the company also operated services from other Belgian airports and had a domestic network that was mainly used by businessmen who wanted to be in their coastal villas for the weekend.

In 1938, the airline purchased the new [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.83]], a development of the S.M. 73 with a speed of 435&nbsp;km/h (270&nbsp;mph), although it flew services at a cruising speed of about 400&nbsp;km/h (250&nbsp;mph).

===1939–1946: Wartime===
At the outbreak of [[World War&nbsp;II]] in 1939, Sabena's fleet totalled 18 aircraft. Its mainstay fleet type was the [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.73]] airliner (it had 11 of the type) and the Junkers Ju 52/3m airliner (it had five). Sabena also had just taken delivery of two [[Douglas DC-3]]s.

During the war, the airline maintained its Belgian Congo routes, but all European services ceased.

===1946–1960: Transatlantic expansion===
[[File:Douglas DC-3D OO-AUM Sabena Ringway 08.07.49 edited-3.jpg|thumb|[[Douglas DC-3]] of Sabena in 1949]]
[[File:Douglas DC-6B OO-CTI Sabena Ringway 13.11.55 edited-1.jpg|thumb|Sabena [[Douglas DC-6]]B arriving at Manchester Airport from New York in 1955]]
After the war, in 1946 Sabena resumed operating a network of intra-European scheduled services. The fleet initially consisted mainly of Douglas DC-3s. There were thousands of surplus [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]s (the military variant of the DC-3) available to help airlines restart operations after the war. The airline now flew under the name of '''SABENA - Belgian World Airlines'''.

Sabena started its first transatlantic route to New York City on 4 June 1946, initially using unpressurised [[Douglas DC-4]] airliners which were augmented and later replaced by [[Douglas DC-6]]Bs. The DC-4s also restarted the airline's traditional route to the Belgian Congo. Sabena was the first airline to introduce transatlantic schedules from the north of England, when one of its DC-6Bs inaugurated the Brussels-[[Manchester Airport|Manchester]]-[[New York City|New York]] route on 28 October 1953.

The [[Convair 240]] was introduced in 1949 to partially replace the DC-3s that until then had flown most European services. As of 1956, improved [[Convair 440|Convair&nbsp;440 "Metropolitan"]] twins began replacing the Convair 240 twins and were used successfully well into the 1960s between European regional destinations.

In 1957, the long-range [[Douglas DC-7]]C was introduced for long-haul routes but this plane would begin to be supplanted after only three years by the [[jet age]]. It remained in service on the transatlantic route until 1962.

On 3 June 1954, a Soviet Air Force [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15]] ([[NATO reporting name]] "Fagot") attacked a Sabena-operated [[Douglas DC-3]] on a cargo flight from the United Kingdom to [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], killing the radio operator and wounding both the captain and engineer. Co-pilot Douglas Wilson managed to land in Austria but the plane suffered significant damage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19540603-0 |title=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=[[Aviation Safety Network]]|access-date=2014-07-23}}</ref>

For the [[Expo 58|1958 world exposition]] in Brussels, Sabena leased two [[Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation|Lockheed Super Constellation]]s from [[Seaboard World Airlines]], using them mainly on transatlantic routes. In the same period, there were experiments with helicopter passenger service using [[Sikorsky S-58]] aircraft from Brussels to Antwerp, Rotterdam, Eindhoven and the Paris heliport at [[Issy-les-Moulineaux]].

===1960–1990: The jet age===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2017}}
{{Rail freight
|float=left
|title=Revenue Passenger-Kilometers, scheduled flights only, in millions
|1950|235
|1955|579
|1960|1,264
|1965|1,635
|1971|2,720
|1975|3,796
|1980|4,853
|1989|6,760
|1995|8,620
|2000|19,379
|source=ICAO Digest of Statistics for 1950-55, IATA World Air Transport Statistics 1960-2000
}}
[[File:Douglas DC-6 OO-SDC of Sabena - Heathrow 1960.jpg|thumb|Sabena [[Douglas DC-6]] at [[Heathrow Airport]] in 1960.]]
[[File:Boeing 707-329 Sabena short fin 1960.jpg|thumb|Sabena Boeing 707-329 in April 1960, shortly after delivery. This aircraft, OO-SJB, would later crash on [[Sabena Flight 548|Flight 548]].]]
[[File:AvionCaravelle.jpg|thumb|Sabena [[Sud Aviation Caravelle]].]]
[[File:Sabena Boeing 747-100 Marmet.jpg|thumb|right|A Sabena [[Boeing 747-100]] seen in 1976.]]
[[File:Douglas DC-10-30CF OO-SLB Sabena BRU 08.06.77 edited-2.jpg|thumb|right|Sabena Douglas DC-10-30CF convertible pax/freighter at Brussels Airport in 1977.]]
[[File:Sabena Airbus A310-200 Gilliand.jpg|thumb|right|A Sabena [[Airbus A310]] seen in 1985.]]
[[File:Boeing 707-329C, Sabena AN1025018.jpg|thumb|A Sabena [[Boeing 707]] near its end of service, in 1981.]]
1960 saw the introduction of the [[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-320]] intercontinental jet for trans-Atlantic flights to New York. SABENA was mainland Europe's first airline to operate a jet across the Atlantic ([[BOAC]] had been flying jet transatlantic services using the [[De Havilland Comet|de Havilland Comet 4]] since 4 October 1958). One of Sabena's aircraft became the first Boeing 707 to crash while in commercial service when [[Sabena Flight 548|Flight 548]] crashed while preparing to land at the [[Brussels Airport]] on 15 February 1961. The United States Figure Skating Team was aboard the aircraft, en route from New York to Prague via Brussels to compete in a figure skating championship.

Six [[Sud Aviation Caravelle|Caravelle]] jetliners were introduced on all medium-haul routes in Europe from February 1961, being flown on most routes alongside the [[Convair 440]]s, until the early 1970s.

The beginning of the 1960s saw a major upheaval for Sabena in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]]. Widespread rioting against Belgian colonials in the months leading up to, and after the independence of the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], caused thousands of Belgians to flee the country. The Belgian government commandeered Sabena's entire long-haul fleet to get the refugees back to Europe. Independence also meant the end of the impressive regional network of routes that the airline had built up in the Congo since 1924. When the new republic began its own airline, [[Air Zaïre|Air Congo]], in June 1961, Sabena held 30 per cent of that airline's shares.

The Douglas DC-6Bs remained in service with Sabena in the mid-1960s although they were no longer used on the airline's main routes. The Boeing&nbsp;707s and Caravelles became the mainstay types during this decade. [[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-100s]] were introduced on important European routes and also some African services from 1967 in a unique colour scheme; the fin markings incorporated bare-metal rudder and white engine colours. At this time [[Fokker F27]]s entered service between regional Belgian airports and European destinations such as [[Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]].

The [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-100]] was introduced in 1971, on transatlantic routes flying alongside the Boeing&nbsp;707-320Cs. Sabena, like many other trans-Atlantic airlines, was satisfied with the Boeing&nbsp;707s. For commercial reasons, it was recognised that it had to buy jumbo jets for its prestige services, notably [[New York JFK]] and as of the mid-seventies, [[Chicago O'Hare]]. Sabena purchased only two first-generation jumbo jets, one named ''Tante Agathe'' (which means Aunt Agathe in French and Dutch, the national languages of Belgium), and it continued to fly the 707 into the early 1980s, as the Boeing 747-100's last flight occurred in 1993.

In 1973, the Boeing 727s on the European network were replaced by [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200s]]. The [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10|McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]] entered service in 1974. In total, Sabena purchased five of these convertible (Passengers and/or freight) [[combi aircraft]] wide-body jets.

In 1984 [[Airbus A310]]s were introduced on routes that had high passenger density. This aircraft type also introduced a modernisation of the 1973 Sabena livery, in which a lighter blue was used and the titles on the fuselage were in a more modern style.

In June 1986 the first of two [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-300]] aircraft joined the fleet, eventually replacing the older 747-100s.

In 1989 Sabena invited Belgian fashion designer [[Olivier Strelli]] to create a new range of uniforms for its cabin crews.

===1990–1995: Sabena World Airlines===
[[File:Sabena, Dublin, May 1995.jpg|thumb|A Sabena Boeing 737 at [[Dublin Airport]] in 1995.]]
A new name, '''Sabena World Airlines''', and colours were introduced for the 1990s. The new livery had an overall white colour and the white circle tail logo in blue on the fin. A large "Sabena" title covered the [[fuselage]] in light blue and the name "Belgian World Airlines" was at times just visible, though the title was also painted on the fuselage in small, clear letters. The 1990s saw further fleet type renewal: the DC-10-30s were replaced with twin-engined [[Airbus&nbsp;A330]] and the Boeing&nbsp;747s with four-engined [[Airbus A340]].
[[File:38be - Sabena Airbus A340-211; OO-SCW@ZRH;23.08.1998 (5126928987).jpg|thumb|To replace their old [[Boeing 747]]s, Sabena purchased many [[Airbus A340]]s. The first of these flew for the airline in 1993.]]

After the liberalisation of the airline industry throughout Europe and the economic consequences of the [[Gulf War]], the Belgian government, the main shareholder of the company, realized that Sabena had little chance of surviving on its own in this very competitive market, and began searching for a suitable partner.

Sabena remained in a poor financial state, and year after year the Belgian government had to cover losses, however it was prevented from providing new funds due to EU State Aid rules. For help in business due to their financial problems, Sabena leased a couple of Boeing 747s from [[Air France]]. Many more aircraft were leased for longer periods, but had to keep their distinctive French [[Aircraft registration|registration numbers]]. 
[[File:Boeing 747-128, Sabena (Air France) AN0157599.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 747 | Boeing 747-128]] leased from [[Air France]] in 1992.]]

Around 1987, [[Scandinavian Airlines|SAS]] tried to merge with the carrier, but the merger was blocked by the Belgian authorities. In 1989, [[British Airways]] and [[KLM]] purchased stakes in Sabena, which were later sold back to the Belgian government. In 1993, [[Air France]] purchased a large minority stake in Sabena, which it sold soon after. Finally, in 1995, [[Swissair]] purchased a 49 percent stake in Sabena and took over management.

In 1993 Sabena adopted its third and final logo, and its head office was in the Air Terminus building on Rue Cardinal Mercier in [[Brussels]].<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. 24–30 March 1993. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1993/1993%20-%200642.html?search=Scanair 119].</ref>

In 1994, [[Paul Rusesabagina]], a manager for Sabena-owned hotels in the former Belgian territory of [[Rwanda]], sheltered over 1200 Tutsis and moderate Hutus at the [[Hôtel des Mille Collines]] of [[Kigali]], saving them from being slaughtered by the [[Interahamwe]] militia during the [[Rwandan genocide]] (this is depicted in the 2004 motion picture ''[[Hotel Rwanda]]'').<ref name="NYTimes">{{Cite news|last=Lacey|first=Marc|date=February 28, 2005|title=Rwandan Hotel Is Still Haunted by Horror|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/world/africa/rwandan-hotel-is-stillhaunted-by-horror.html|access-date=|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===1995–2001: Swissair control===
[[File:Sabena 737-500.jpg|thumb|A Sabena [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-500]] in 2000.]]
[[File:OO-DJE EGBB 2001.jpg|thumb|Sabena BAe 146 at Birmingham, 2001]]
When [[Swissair]] took over management of the airline, a few modifications were made to the aircraft's liveries, including a sticker, saying: ''Flying together with Swissair''. 
In March and April 1998 two [[McDonnell-Douglas MD-11]] aircraft, both leased from [[CityBird]], joined the fleet and such long-haul destinations as [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[Montreal]] and [[São Paulo]] were (re)introduced. Also, that year saw the delivery of the last passenger version of the MD-11 from Boeing, which merged with [[McDonnell Douglas]] a year before.

1999 saw new colours introduced to the fleet, beginning with an [[Airbus&nbsp;A340]]. One of the latest fleet types that Sabena introduced, right after the [[Airbus A321|A321]] and [[Airbus A320 family|A320]] was the [[Airbus A319|A319]] which saw service in 2000. These new planes were part of a record-order of 34 [[Airbus A320 family]] aircraft, imposed on Sabena when under Swissair management.<ref name=":0" />

===2001: Bankruptcy===
[[File:Bae146.avrorj85.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|SN Brussels Airlines [[BAe 146]] in the former Sabena livery at [[London Heathrow Airport]] in 2002.]]
After an airline recession and the effects on the airline industry of the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001, all airlines that flew across the Atlantic suffered. Swissair had pledged to invest millions in Sabena but failed to do so, partly because the airline had financial problems itself, having filed for bankruptcy protection one month prior. Sabena filed for legal protection against its creditors on 3 October, and went into liquidation on 6 November 2001. [[Fred Chaffart]], chairman of the board of directors of Sabena, read a declaration on this day to explain the decision.

7 November 2001 was the final day of operations for Sabena. Flight 690 (operated by an [[Airbus A340-311]] registered as OO-SCZ) from [[Abidjan]], Ivory Coast and [[Cotonou]], Benin, was the last Sabena flight to land in Brussels.<ref>{{cite web |author=Osborn |first=Andrew |date=7 November 2001 |title=Belgian airline goes bust with loss of 12,000 jobs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2001/nov/08/theairlineindustry.terrorismandtravel |access-date=17 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The flight had  266 passengers and eleven crew members.

A group of investors managed to take over [[Delta Air Transport]], one of Sabena's subsidiaries, and transformed it into [[SN Brussels Airlines]]. That airline merged with [[Virgin Express]] in 2006 to form a new company, [[Brussels Airlines]].

The [[Belgian Parliament]] formed a committee to investigate the reasons behind the bankruptcy of Sabena and the involvement of Switzerland's flag carrier. At the same time, the company's administrator investigated possible legal steps against Swissair, and its successors in interest [[Swiss International Air Lines]] and [[Lufthansa]].

In 2006, the Belgian government, a former major shareholder, filed criminal charges against the former Swissair management. The former Swissair management was condemned by the judges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/340682/sabena-obtient-enfin-justice.html |title=Sabena finally gets justice - the judges felt that the demise of Sabena was a consequence of non-compliance by Swissair contractual obligations - DBNet report January 2011 accessed 26 December 2011 |publisher=Dhnet.be |date=2011-01-28 |access-date=2014-07-23}}</ref>

On 16 January 2007 the Belgian - Flemish news program ''Terzake'' reported that during the 1990s, several members of the board were paid large sums illegally through a Sabena affiliate in [[Bermuda]]. When Paul Reutlinger became the CEO of the company, he stopped the illegal payments. ''Terzake'' went on to state that this might explain why the Belgian board members remained quiet when it became apparent Swissair was exploiting Sabena and eventually drove the company into bankruptcy.

The reasons for the bankruptcy of Sabena are numerous. One of the direct causes was [[Swissair]] not living up to their contractual obligations and failing to inject necessary funds into the company. This was because at the time Swissair was having its own financial problems. In the so-called "Hotel Agreement", signed on July 17, 2001, Belgian prime minister [[Guy Verhofstadt]] met with Swissair boss [[Mario Corti (manager)|Mario Corti]], who agreed to inject €258&nbsp;million into Sabena, but the sum was never paid. The purchase of 34 new [[Airbus A320 family]] planes, imposed under Swissair's management, was a burden with which Sabena could not cope.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2003-06-12 |title=Airbus's secret past |url=https://www.economist.com/special-report/2003/06/12/airbuss-secret-past |access-date=2018-12-28 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Gumbel|first=Peter|date=2002-10-20|title=The Last Days of Sabena|magazine=Time|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,366278,00.html|access-date=2018-12-28|issn=0040-781X}}</ref>

After the bankruptcy, a parliamentary commission in Belgium was established to investigate the demise of the airline. The Belgian politicians got a part of the blame; [[Rik Daems]], who, at the time, was Minister of Public Enterprises and Participations, Telecommunication and Middle Classes, received the most criticism due to his lack of effort. Swissair itself went bankrupt in October 2001 and was liquidated in March 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=|last2=|date=2001-11-07|title=Sabena files for bankruptcy|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2001/nov/07/theairlineindustry.terrorismandtravel|access-date=2018-12-28|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/sabena-bankrupt-as-its-last-flight-lands-1.402883|title=Sabena bankrupt as its last flight lands|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2018-12-28}}</ref>