The Sabena , Acronym for Belgian Public limit company of Exploitation of the Aerial navigation , was the national Airline company Belgian (Code AITA: SN ; Code ICAO: SAB ).

History

Pioneers

It was created in 1923 and was declared in bankruptcy in 2001. On this date, it constituted one of the oldest airline companies, just behind KLM and Avianca created in 1919. At the historical level, it is advisable to return at the end of the First World War, one period during which the SNETA (National union for the study of air transport) considers the creation of commercial lines in Europe and Africa. An initiative which passes from the project to reality as of 1920, with the launching of an air fleet made up of military apparatuses reconverted as civil conveyers, who furrow Europe (connections Brussels-London and Bruxelles-Paris) but also the colony of Congo (opening of a section Léopoldville - Stanleyville). Extremely the successes generated at the time of this first stage, the SNETA support the adoption by the Belgian government of a creation project of a national company charged to take again the air heritage present and to develop it. An initiative which will materialize under the name of SABENA to which one assigns a new mission: to ensure of the air bonds between the Belgium and the Congo.

In this respect, on February 12th 1925, the aviators Edmond Thieffry and Joseph De Brycker succeed in the exploit to convoy their biplane called " Princess Marie-Josée " , of Brussels to Léopoldville. An air operation which will be the anteroom of the future development of the very important air links between Belgium and the African continent. In 1929, the SABENA is seen equipped in particular with apparatuses of the type Fokker for the European exploitation of its network, like of Savoia-Marchetti concerning Africa.

The era of the Jets

Before the Second world war, it extends its fleet with the introduction of famous DC-3 Dakota. However, it will be necessary to await the end of the conflict so that its activities begin again and this, in the diagram of a very important evolution of commercial air transport. In addition to the generalization of the hostesses on board, the company obtains DC-6 in turn then enters the era of the reaction engines with the Boeing 707, followed Boeing 747 and DC-10. It even has one moment have the project to buy Harmony.

Since 1946 until its declaration of bankruptcy, the Belgian national company will not have cease to extend its network on the 4 continents, with a particular accent on the African connections (Kinshasa, Dakar, Entebbe, Douala, Kano, etc) which constituted its mark of reference and a very significant part of its market. Asia will remain always the weak link of the networks. With share Tokyo and India the company forever really put the foot on this continent.

The beginning of the end

However, in spite of its many activities, the SABENA forever be a truly profitable business enterprise. In order to ensure its survival (crisis situation and of severe competition in the air field) and to disengage public finances of the accounts of the company, under the crook of the qualified Minister Elio Di Rupo, the Belgian government yields 49% of the capital of the company to the shareholder SAirGroup. In addition to the resumption of the control of the activities by a private group, this period is also marked by the complete introduction of a fleet of apparatuses Airbus within the company as well as the inscription of this one into the strategic network named " Qualiflyer" (TAP, Swissair, Sabena, etc).

In spite them many efforts to rectify the economic situation of the SABENA, by building budgetary cuts and in terms of human resources, the company will be unable to reabsorb its debts and will be declared in bankruptcy on November 7th 2001. Not very front, its principal partner, the Swissair company was also stated in bankruptcy in order not to have to return of account concerning the fraudulent management of Sabena. The late company succeeded in 2002 SN Brussels Airlines, which took again its designation IATA and its logo in form of “S” stylized. In November 2006, 5 years after the bankruptcy of the SABENA, SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin announce to them " mariage" to form the " Brussels Airlines ".

Float Historique

The planes are mentioned below which belonged to the fleet of Sabena. It are classified according to the decade during which they made their entry in the fleet.

1920-1940

1945-1960

1960-1970

1970-1980

1980-1990

1990-2001

  • Airbus A330 -200 and -300

  • Airbus A340
  • Airbus A319
  • Airbus A320
  • Airbus A321

Anecdotes

Name has several retro-acronyms more or less amusing:

In French

  • Public limit company of the Babies And Alcoholic Infants
  • Except Accident, Of course, We Arrive
  • Swissair Exploited Well Our Money
  • Système With Bagage S Egarés Not-findable Antérieurement

In English

  • Such has Bad Experience Never Again (such a bad experiment, never that!)
  • Such has Bloody Experience Never Again (which dreadful experiment, never that!)
  • Such has Beauty Even Not Allowed (in reference to the beauty of the hostesses, committed before the Années 1960, but still in service towards 1990)
  • Sex And Beauty Every Night Again (Sex and beauty each night still)

In Dutch

  • Seks Aan Boord In Niets Anders (sex on board and anything else)

Random links:The School buissonnière (Labiche) | DaN Miller | William Fox (producing) | Congelation of the grounds | Cristóbal de Olid

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