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Air Belgium (1979–2000)

Logo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

Belgian airline

Air Belgium S.A. was a Belgian charter airline that was established in May 1979 as a leisure carrier and operated until 2000.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

Apr 24, 1979Founded1

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Air Belgium Boeing 737-300 OO-ILF Marmet
Photo: Eduard Marmet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Air Belgium S.A. was a Belgian charter airline that was established in May 1979 as a leisure carrier and operated until 2000.2

The story

On 3 May 1979, tour operator Sun International and charter company Abelag Aviation partnered to establish Abelag Airways. In the following month it began operations with a Boeing 707 and a Boeing 737-200, flying from Brussels Airport to destinations in the Mediterranean. After Abelag Aviation withdrew its support, the airline was renamed Air Belgium International S.A. on 15 February 1980.

In 1990, in addition to European/Mediterranean destinations served, 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 from Great Britain. By 30 October 2000, Air Belgium had ceased all flight operations.

From Wikipedia’s article on Air Belgium (1979–2000), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. Oct 31, 2000Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. Apr 24, 1979Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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