Brussels Airlines and do not receive significant benefits from traditional frequent flyer programmes. Brussels Airlines Brussels Airlines (stylized as brussels airlines) is the flag carrier and largest airline of Belgium, based and headquartered at Brussels Airport. It operates to over 120 destinations in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia and also offers charter services, maintenance and crew training (as of 2007). The airline is a member of the Star Alliance as well as the International Air Transport Association. The airline's IATA code "SN" is inherited from its predecessors, Sabena and SN Brussels Airlines. Lufthansa purchased 45% of the company in 2009, and
Sabena planes were part of a record-order of 34 Airbus A320 family aircraft, imposed on Sabena when under Swissair management. After an airline recession and the effects on the airline industry of the September 11 attacks in 2001, all airlines that flew across the Atlantic suffered. Swissair had pledged to invest millions in Sabena but failed to do so, partly because the airline had financial problems itself, having filed for bankruptcy protection one month prior. The company filed for legal protection against its creditors on 3 October, and went into liquidation on 6 November 2001. Fred Chaffart, Chairman of the Board