Air Belgium (1979–2000)

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

This article is about the airline between 1979 and 2000. For the airline established in 2016, see Air Belgium (2016).
Air Belgium
IATA ICAO Callsign
AJ ABB AIR BELGIUM
Commenced operations3 May 1979 (as Abelag Airways)
1980 (as Air Belgium)
Ceased operations30 October 2000
HubsBrussels Airport
Parent companyAirtours (1998-2000)

History
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 operated the following aircraft:[2]

Air Belgium fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A320-200 2 1999 2000 Leased from Airtours International Airways
Boeing 707-320C 1 1979 1980
Boeing 737-200 4 1980 1985
Boeing 737-300 2 1986 1988
Boeing 737-300QC 1 1996 1999
Boeing 737-400 2 1988 2000
Boeing 757-200 1 1989 1996

See also

References
  1. "Abelag Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. "Air Belgium Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved June 24, 2023.

Media related to Air Belgium (1979-2000) at Wikimedia Commons


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