Sabena's chairman said all European and intercontinental flights would remain suspended and asked staff to stay at home.

BBC: Belgian national airline bankrupt

When restaurateur Sabena Puri realized that, she decided to make sure Junnoon had its own spot on the social networking site.

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Meanwhile, Belgium's national airline, Sabena, in which Swissair is a big investor, is likewise being kept aloft by short-term government loans.

ECONOMIST: Subsidies for European airlines

Symbolically the last flight came from Africa, where Sabena pioneered commercial air travel in the 1930s to Belgium's then colony, Congo.

BBC: Belgian national airline bankrupt

As this prevented the airline providing funds for Belgium's Sabena, in which Swissair had a large stake, it forced Sabena into bankruptcy as well.

ECONOMIST: Back to old tricks | The

Sabena cancelled most of its flights on Tuesday after ground staff in Brussels staged a walk-out in protest over rumours of the bankruptcy decision.

BBC: Belgian national airline bankrupt

Analysts say this could lead to bankruptcy for the Olympic, making it the third major European airline after Swissair and Sabena to go bust since 11 September.

BBC: EU probes aid to Olympic Airways

Airlines such as Swissair, Sabena and Aer Lingus, were already facing severe difficulties not least because of the growing competition from cut-price airlines such as Ireland's Ryanair and Britain's EasyJet.

ECONOMIST: Partners in a storm | The

It's finished with Sabena.

BBC: Belgian national airline bankrupt