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
Kosova Airlines Kosova Airlines Kosova Airlines is an airline that is based in Kosovo. The airline links Pristina to major European cities. The airline was established in autumn 2003 by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Kosovo Government. On 10 May 2006, the only aircraft in the Kosova Airlines fleet, a Boeing 737-700, which was wet leased from the German airline Hamburg International, was returned to that airline, and Kosova Airlines ceased operating flights. The airline however continues to work with other airline companies flying into Pristina, such as Germanwings, LTU, Air Berlin and a few others.