Sabena is definitely the national Belgian airline. The company ("Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne", Belgian company for air traffic business) has been created on 23 may 1923.

In recent years, the Belgian government has searched for a "partner" to ensure the survival of the company in a competing environment. A first love affair has been going on with Air France for a while (i.e. code share flights were organized) but, when this particular company got it financial trouble itself, it was decided on both parties to look for someone else. It happened to be Swissair, setting up a powerful group "SAIRgroup" with, among others, Austrian Airlines. This became the fundaments of the present Qualiflyer Group which now also include many more airlines. In the mid nineties, SAIRgroup acquired a stake of nearly 50% in Sabena (and one speaks at the end of 1999 off a total purchase af Sabena by SAir group). This has, among other consequences, that Sabena's present CEO is a Swiss and that the last acquisitions for replacement of the old Boeings 737 (they have 200s, -300s, -400s and even -500s) has been the same as the Swissair one : Airbus A319/320/321, although Sabena never had a single Airbus in its fleet dedicated to short/medium haul flights. probably more than an obvious way to cut down maintenance and repair costs as well as purchase expenses.

As always before, the new CEO decided to give the company a new visual identity with a new livery being implemented from late '98/begin '99. They switch from the "all white" concept to a white and blue concept in which the engines and the upper tail fin are dark blue with Sabena's titles on them.

The long haul fleet is being renewed as well with the appearance in recent years of Airbuses A340 (two -200s and 2 -300s) and in '98 of Airbuses A330 (one -200s and four -300s). All in leasing. But very recent decisions have been taken about replacing already all (rather new : 1993 !!!) A340-200s  by -300s in 2001 and 2002. They are more reliable can load more passengers and the reduction of operating range could be almost neutralized by more powerful engines.

A bit earlier two MD11 had taken the place of former DC 10s. They (OO-CTC and OO-CTS) seem to be operated in the frame of a agreement with City Bird for North and South American routes.

Smaller aircrafts are also maintained in the fleet such as (five) De Havilland Dash 8 not mentioned in the fleet list here above. Although Sabena's official website does not say a word about it (yet), recently an ATR 72 was discovered (see below).

Operations on short haul routes to more "regional" airports have been assigned to Delta Air Transport (DAT).

The two last Boeing 747 have recently ceased flying. On his way back from Cincinnati, Cpt Jacques Libert has completed the last step of a almost 30 years long history. The Jumbos entered the fleet in 1970, mainly dedicated to New York and Kinshasa routes. Rapidly proven to have an excessive passenger capacity, the two giants went back to Seattle to be transformed into CFs. Sabena became the first airline in the world to have passenger in the front and freight in the back ! (according to Trends Nov. 4th '99 edition). There must also be a last flight with a bunch of technicians, pilots, journalists and so on. According to some good sources, the demand was so important that this "good bye" trip had to be repeated twice with all paying passengers !

Through the nineties, Sabena has suffered regular financial problems although they were successful in filling their airplanes more and more. So, it's not that the company has no knowledge of coping with the market, it is that financial and some managerial problems have risen. At mid 2001, one more drastic restructuration plan was put together while it was certain that Swissair would forget about raising their participation to 85% of the shares (they had like 49,5%) because of ther own desastrous financial conditions. It was repeatedly asked why the Swiss had to renew all of the Sabena fleet with Airbuses (on a large scale), while some of the Boeings were still in good shape. Some executives keep contesting this point of view.

After September 11th, Swissair suddenly drowned in judicial composition (planes grounded because no money to pay for the jet fuel !) the day before they had to give money to Sabena in exchange of their "non taking 85% of the capital) and the company itself had to ask for judicial composition within a few hours; That was accepted on october 4th for only short period of two months. Within that short time, sabena has to find a new partner ! Good luck !

Sabena has also a control stake in Sobelair, charter airline, but it goes without saying that they are going to sell some (all ?) of their subsidiaries like : catering, technics, Sobelair and a few others (I.T. subsidiary e.g.).
 
 

	OO-SDJ, Sabena Boeing 737-200 of the old days (1975) has been repainted to wear the new colors. It is supposingly one of the ones which are going to be replaced last by an Airbus (otherwise, it's really throwing money away). Notice the surprising cargo door on that aircraft. Its generation (the first Sabena 737s) were mostly (all ?) convertible aircraft with a "quick change" capability. Here at Brussels (BRU) in final for runway 25L. Left the fleet in 2000 for European Aviation (G-BZKP).
	The same, OO-SDJ, Sabena Boeing 737-200 at Brussels (BRU) about to embark passengers on September 17th '99. Tomy knowledge, these aircraft fly with the traditionnal "pitot" equipment (analog instruments indicating the position of VOR and NDB beacons). Originally, there is no Flight management system aboard. The 300 series came with FMS and FMC (see below).
	OO-???, Boeing 737-300 still in classic livery at Brussels (BRU) in final for runway 25L on Sept. 6th '99. CFM-56 engine flat underneath, one sole emergency exit... In addition to these external features, this plane (and all -300s) have got "EFIS" features : the AutoPilot can be linked ("slaved") to the Flight Management Systems (and certainly the FMC) for flying according to the instructions of the FMC after activating the VNAV and/or LNAV knobs.
	OO-SSB, Sabena Airbus A319-112 at Brussels (BRU) approaching runway 25L on Sept. 6th '99. The new generation of Sabena's short and medium haul carriers spreads out rapidly. This one has arrived in Aug '99 a few weeks before the picture was taken. Those plane are "flown by wire" (the pilot gives his instructions to the computer through his joystick and pedals and the computer then activates the cables that move the rudder, ailerons and son on. Very easy to fly, certainly if you notice that the plane is "self-trimmed" : the compensation (balance) of the plane occurs automatically.
	The same on May 1st 2001 in short final rwy 02 by Northeasterly winds.
	OO-SUB, Sabena Airbus A321-200 at Brussels (BRU) taxiing to gate after landing on 25L. On september 17th '99. Arrived in the fleet in April '99.
	PH-SDT, De Havilland Dash 8-300 at Brussels (BRU) in final for runway 25L. Notice the Dutch (PH) registration number. It's a Schreiner Airways plane. Sabena use them for very short haul and regional routes. This particular one was put into the air in 1991 and has been flying for Canada twice (C-GFRP and C-FZBL).
	PH-SDU, other version of the same story, on May 1st, 2001. Short final rwy 02. Plane dates from 1990 and has flown for many countries... has been twice used by Sabena and since January 2000 has been used by Trans Travel Airlines. So this picture means probably that is back at Sabena's once again.
	PH-SCY, Sabena ATR-72 at Brussels (BRU) taxiing on September 17th '99. Rather unexpected, not in Sabena's fleet list. Notice the Dutch (PH) registration number. Date from 1989 and has flown for various companies. Recently for Air Nostrum, one of Iberia's regional contractors (EC-GQS).
	OO-CTC, Sabena MD11, operated by City Bird, on July 21st '99 at Brussels (BRU), parked in front of hangar. Arrangements between City Bird and Sabena include the use by City Birds of two MD11 with full Sabena colors (owned by CTB, leased to Sabena but still operated by CTB). For non specialists, only the small sticker on the nose ("operated by City Bird") will tell the difference with a "normal" Sabena plane.
	OO-SFQ, Sabena Airbus A330-200 at Brussels (BRU) taxiing to gate after landing on September 17th '99, short after the leasing contract was signed with lessor ILFC in Aug. '99.
	Sabena Airbus A340, touching down on runway 25L at Brussels on July 21st '99. You can hope for better picture quality (will be replaced soon).
	Sabena (DAT) Avro RJ, landing in the slightly foggy weather on rwy 25L at Brussels on May 1st 2001. Notice the "blue belly" - Swissair style - appeared in 2001. Nose wheel about to touch down.

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