Étienne Davignon (1932-2026) and Belgian aviation: the man behind Brussels Airlines

The name Étienne Davignon is primarily associated with European politics and Belgian industry. A former Vice-President of the European Commission and an influential figure in both the Société Générale de Belgique and the Belgian business world, he nevertheless played a decisive role in the survival of Belgian aviation after the collapse of Sabena. Without him, Brussels Airlines would most likely never have existed.

The Sabena Trauma

When Sabena went bankrupt on 7 November 2001, Belgium abruptly lost its national airline. The collapse caused a major economic and symbolic shock: thousands of jobs disappeared and Brussels Airport risked losing its role as a European and African hub.

In the days following the bankruptcy, Étienne Davignon understood that rapid action was needed to prevent the complete collapse of Belgian air transport. Together with financier Maurice Lippens, he mobilised a group of Belgian investors — banks, industrial companies and regional public authorities — to create a structure capable of taking over the viable parts of the former Sabena.

The Creation of SN Airholding and SN Brussels Airlines

The chosen vehicle was called SN Airholding, with Davignon becoming its chairman. The objective was twofold: to preserve a Belgian aviation presence at Brussels Airport and to retain as much of Sabena’s operational expertise as possible.

The new structure took over Delta Air Transport (DAT), one of the few subsidiaries still operating after Sabena’s bankruptcy. In February 2002, DAT officially became SN Brussels Airlines.

Davignon played the role of strategist and consensus builder. He helped convince investors that a smaller Belgian airline, refocused on Europe and Africa, could be viable. Maintaining the African network was particularly important: historically, Sabena had held a strong position in Central Africa, especially on routes to Kinshasa.

The Merger with Virgin Express

Although SN Brussels Airlines managed to survive, the European market quickly became extremely competitive. Low-cost carriers were expanding rapidly, while Brussels remained a fragmented market, divided between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express, which was then controlled by Richard Branson’s group.

Davignon understood that consolidation was inevitable. Under his chairmanship, SN Airholding negotiated the rapprochement between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express in 2004. The two airlines initially remained commercially separate, but came under common ownership.

This move proved essential. It reduced duplication, rationalised the networks and strengthened Brussels’ position as an aviation hub. Davignon defended a pragmatic vision: Belgium no longer had the means to support several competing airlines operating from Brussels.

The Birth of Brussels Airlines

The process officially culminated in 2006 with the announcement of the merger between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express. The new brand, Brussels Airlines, was unveiled on 7 November 2006 — symbolically exactly five years after Sabena’s collapse. Operations began in March 2007.

Davignon remained one of the central figures within the group. He oversaw the transition and later participated in the discussions that led to Lufthansa Group acquiring a stake in Brussels Airlines in 2008. The partnership provided the Belgian carrier with financial stability and access to a broader global network.

“I Saved It Twice”

For nearly two decades, Étienne Davignon remained closely associated with Brussels Airlines, chairing its board for many years. In 2020, when he finally stepped down from the board, he summed up his contribution with a memorable phrase: he believed he had “created the airline and saved it twice.”

The statement reflects the view shared by many observers of the Belgian aviation sector. Davignon was neither a pilot nor an operational airline manager. His contribution was primarily political, financial and strategic: bringing investors together, convincing public authorities, facilitating alliances and preserving a Belgian aviation ambition after the Sabena disaster.

A Lasting Legacy in Belgian Aviation

Today, Brussels Airlines remains the direct heir to that reconstruction. The airline has preserved several historical elements inherited from Sabena and SN Brussels Airlines, notably its strategic importance on African routes.

History will probably remember Étienne Davignon less as a traditional “airline executive” than as an institutional architect of Belgian air transport. At a time of profound crisis, he helped ensure that Belgium did not disappear entirely from the map of European national airlines.