Aviation History
Belgium was an early participant in European aviation, and its national carrier Sabena, founded in 1923, became one of the world's oldest airlines and a pioneer of colonial-era long-haul routes to the Belgian Congo. Sabena introduced jet service across the Atlantic in 1960 and operated widebody aircraft including the Boeing 747, but decades of financial difficulty culminated in bankruptcy in 2001 after a failed partnership with Swissair. Brussels Airlines emerged from Sabena's ashes via SN Brussels Airlines and a later merger with Virgin Express, becoming Belgium's new flag carrier. Brussels Airport at Zaventem remains one of Europe's significant hubs.
Sabena (Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne) is established on 23 May as Belgium's national airline.
Sabena pilots complete the first flight linking Brussels to Léopoldville in the Belgian Congo, opening a landmark colonial air route.
Sabena launches scheduled service to New York using Douglas DC-4 aircraft.
Sabena introduces Boeing 707 jets on transatlantic routes, becoming the first mainland European airline to fly jets across the Atlantic.
Sabena introduces the Boeing 747 jumbo jet on its transatlantic network.
Swissair acquires a 49% stake in Sabena and assumes management control as part of a wider European alliance strategy.
Sabena files for bankruptcy in October and ends all flights on 7 November after nearly 80 years of operation.
SN Brussels Airlines, Sabena's operational successor, merges with Virgin Express to create Brussels Airlines.
Sabena (defunct 2001) · Brussels Airlines · TUI fly Belgium · Air Belgium (ceased passenger ops)
Compiled from public/encyclopedic sources including Wikipedia, Flightradar24 and Brussels Times historical coverage; exact early-1920s route details may vary slightly by source.