Editing Sabena (section)

===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.