Sabena followed on 1 May 1929 via Antwerp, Düsseldorf, and Essen. When Sabena was created, the airline was partly funded by Belgians in the Belgian Congo colony who lost their air service, an experimental passenger and cargo company (LARA) between Léopoldville, Lisala, and Stanleyville a year earlier and who expected the new Belgian national airline to fill this gap. On 12 February 1925, Sabena pioneered a long haul across Africa to Leopoldville, capital of the Belgian Congo. Throughout its history, Sabena had a long tradition of service to African destinations and for a long time these were the only profitable routes
Nordic European Airlines Nordic European Airlines Nordic European Airlines was a charter airline based Stockholm, Sweden. Nordic European Airlines began its life in 1991 as Nordic East Airways operating one Douglas DC-9-21 aircraft on charters to the Mediterranean region. In 1992 the airline received two MD-80s. Because they needed an aircraft with a longer range than the MD-80s, the airline acquired Boeing 737-300 aircraft and the DC-9s and MD-80s were returned to the leasing companies while additionally a 737-400 was acquired. In 1995 Nordic East acquired two Lockheed L-1011s from Cathay Pacific and with those, and a third aircraft added later, the charter