Sabena Boeing 747s with four-engined Airbus A340. After the liberalisation of the airline industry throughout Europe and the economic consequences of the Gulf War, the Belgian government, the main shareholder of the company, realized that Sabena had little chance of surviving on its own in this very competitive market, and began searching for a suitable partner. Sabena remained in a poor financial state, and year after year the Belgian government had to cover losses, however, it was however prevented from providing new funds due to EU State Aid rules. Around 1987, SAS tried to merge with the carrier, but the merger
National Airlines (1983) Airlines from Pan American World Airways in anticipation of scheduled New York to Paris service. The scheduled service never materialized, although flights on the route were flown as charters. The company faced financial problems and by December 1985 it ceased operations, filing for bankruptcy in May 1986. National Airlines (1983) The second American airline to be named National Airlines was owned by United Air Carriers. It operated from 1977 to 1986. The airline was created when officials of supplemental airline Overseas National Airways formed a FAR Part 129 leasing company known as United Air Carriers on July 21, 1977. When