Air Belgium (1979–2000)

Last updated
Air Belgium
Air Belgium.svg
IATA ICAO Call sign
AJABBAIR BELGIUM
Commenced operations3 May 1979 (as Abelag Airways)
1980 (as Air Belgium)
Ceased operations30 October 2000
Hubs Brussels Airport
Parent company Airtours (1998-2000)

Air Belgium S.A was a Belgian charter airline that launched in May 1979 as a leisure carrier and operated until 2000.

Contents

History

Abelag Airways Boeing 707-320C at Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1979 Abelag Airways Boeing 707-351C Volpati-1.jpg
Abelag Airways Boeing 707-320C at Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1979

On 3 May 1979, tour operator Sun International and charter company Abelag Aviation partnered to found the airline Abelag Airways. [1] It began operations with a Boeing 707 and a Boeing 737-200, flying from Brussels Airport to destinations in the Mediterranean. In 1980, after Abelag Aviation withdrew from the company, the airline was renamed to Air Belgium.

In 1990, in addition to European/Mediterranean destinations operated, the airline launched operations to destinations such as the United States and Mexico.

In 1998, Air Belgium and its parent company were bought by Airtours. By 30 October 2000, Air Belgium had ceased all flight operations.

Fleet

An Air Belgium Boeing 737-400 parked at EuroAirport in 1987 Air Belgium Boeing 737-300 OO-ILF Marmet.jpg
An Air Belgium Boeing 737-400 parked at EuroAirport in 1987

Air Belgium operated the following aircraft:[ citation needed ]

Air Belgium fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A320-200 219992000Leased from Airtours International Airways
Boeing 707-320C 119791980
Boeing 737-200 419801985
Boeing 737-300 219861988
Boeing 737-300QC 119961999
Boeing 737-400 219882000
Boeing 757-200 119891996

See also

References

  1. "Abelag Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

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