Sabena Congo, caused thousands of Belgians to flee the country. The Belgian government commandeered Sabena's entire long haul fleet to get the refugees back to Europe. Independence also meant the end of the impressive regional network of routes that the airline had built up in the Congo since 1924. When the new republic began its own airline, Air Congo, in June 1961, Sabena held 30 percent of that airline's shares. The Douglas DC-6Bs remained in service with Sabena in the mid-1960s although they were no longer used on the airline's main routes. The Boeing 707s and Caravelles became the mainstay types
Nordic European Airlines Nordic European Airlines Nordic European Airlines was a charter airline based Stockholm, Sweden. Nordic European Airlines began its life in 1991 as Nordic East Airways operating one Douglas DC-9-21 aircraft on charters to the Mediterranean region. In 1992 the airline received two MD-80s. Because they needed an aircraft with a longer range than the MD-80s, the airline acquired Boeing 737-300 aircraft and the DC-9s and MD-80s were returned to the leasing companies while additionally a 737-400 was acquired. In 1995 Nordic East acquired two Lockheed L-1011s from Cathay Pacific and with those, and a third aircraft added later, the charter