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
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