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
Sun Country Airlines Sun Country Airlines Sun Country Airlines is a United States-based low-cost airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota and based at nearby Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. The airline operates 70 routes, mostly between destinations in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean. Sun Country began flight operations in January 1983 with a single Boeing 727-200 jetliner. The airline's original staff consisted of sixteen pilots, sixteen flight attendants, three mechanics and one office person. A number of the original employees had previously worked for Braniff International Airways which ceased operations on May 12, 1981. The company's founder and first President/CEO was