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
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