Aviation History
Luxembourg's passenger aviation dates to Luxembourg Airlines, founded in 1948 and reorganized as Luxair in the early 1960s, which remains the country's sole scheduled passenger carrier. Far more globally significant is Cargolux, founded in 1970, which grew from a single freighter to become one of the largest all-cargo airlines in the world and a Boeing 747-8 Freighter launch customer — making tiny Luxembourg a major hub of international air cargo.
The country's first airline was established, laying the foundation for what would become Luxair.
The carrier was reorganized and renamed Luxair, opening a Luxembourg–Paris route with a Fokker F27 Friendship.
Cargolux Airlines International was established in March 1970 by Luxair, the Salen Shipping Group, Loftleiðir and private investors, starting cargo operations that May with a single Canadair CL-44 freighter flying Luxembourg–Hong Kong.
Cargolux took delivery of its first Boeing 747 freighters, beginning its transition to modern widebody cargo aircraft and a route network now spanning some 90 destinations.
Cargolux became the launch customer for the Boeing 747-8 Freighter, receiving its first aircraft on 12 October 2011.
The Luxembourg government acquired Lufthansa's 13% stake in Luxair, becoming the airline's majority shareholder.
Luxair · Cargolux · Luxaviation (business aviation)
Wikipedia, Luxair and Cargolux corporate histories, aviation trade press