Sabena technics proximity. At Brussels Airport, Sabena technics employs a workforce of more than 400 person. Here, airframe maintenance is carried out on narrow and wide-body aircraft, as well as component repair and overhaul. The Brussels site benefits from specialized component workshops and a logistics center. It equally houses the heavy maintenance facility of X-air services. In July 2014, Brussels site recover his independence under the name of Sabena Aerospace. Sabena name having a huge Belgian ancrage (Sabena meaning "Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de Navigation Aérienne"). At Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo airport, the facilities extend over a surface area of 35,000 m², with a workforce
Sabena Tutsis and moderate Hutus at the Hôtel des Mille Collines of Kigali, saving them from being slaughtered by the Interahamwe militia during the Rwandan genocide (this is depicted in the motion picture "Hotel Rwanda"). In March and April 1998 two McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 aircraft, both leased from CityBird, joined the fleet and such long-haul destinations as Newark, Montreal and São Paulo were (re)introduced. 1999 saw new colours introduced to the fleet, beginning with an Airbus A340. One of the latest fleet types that Sabena introduced, right after the A321 and A320 was the A319 which saw service in 2000. These new