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
European Regions Airline Association Single European Sky", a set of proposals to strengthen the legislative basis for the Single European Sky. In July 2013, when the European commission called for all state subsidies for airports to end within 10 years, the ERA criticized the proposal, arguing that this decision will have a negative impact on the development of regional airlines and airports. In 2014, the ERA pledged for a hiatus of the European Union Emissions Trading System until a compromise with other international authorities could be reached. The European Regions Airline Association makes an annual regional "Airport of the Year" award, which in 2016