SN Brussels Airlines and regional investment companies, as well as the Brussels and Walloon governments) set up SN Airholding, headed by Étienne Davignon. After the 2001 collapse of Sabena, Belgium's flag carrier airline, Belgium was left without a national airline. In February 2002, SN Airholding took over the Belgian airline DAT, a subsidiary of Sabena, and changed its trading name to SN Brussels Airlines. In 2002, a strategic reorganization started, led by the former CEO Peter Davies. On 12 April 2005 SN Brussels took holding control of Virgin Express and on 31 March 2006 they announced their merger. On 7 November 2006 they
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