Following last week announces regarding a court has declared Belgium airline Sabena bankrupt and due to it's consequence all European and intercontinental flights of Sabena were suspended; as result of the increasingly bad results of Sabena, caused by several factors such as the continued lack of profitability of the company and the crisis in the aviation industry, dramatically increased by the September 11 events in the USA, it has been officially informed last saturday November 10th that the regional airline "DAT" Delta Air Transport SA/NV, until now operating carrier for Sabena SA/NV, has started its own operations linking again Brussels with the rest of Europe.
Intention to start a smaller, more adequate airline activity, based on the regional airline DAT. This activity would focus on Europe, with possibly some profitable long haul destinations. Objective is to keep the country, out of Zaventem, linked with the rest of the world and to guarantee employment possibilities for thousands of people.

More than 1.000 DAT pilots, cabin crew members, technicians and other members of the personnel have launched their airline with the objective to serve 35 European destinations from Brussels International Airport (BIAC). The possibility of other destinations is also being studied. Passengers will be informed via their travel agent and a publicity campaign in the print media. Soon a new website will be available to explain the advantages and practicalities of booking and flying DAT.

DAT has also become a member of the Qualiflyer Frequent Flyer Programme. Passengers with non-used Sabena tickets on a destination now served by DAT can use their tickets for the respective destination.

DAT operates a fleet of 32 regional aircraft : 14 AVRO RJ85 (82 seats), 12 AVRO RJ100 (97 seats) and 6 BAe 146 (84 seats). In 2000 it served 3.3 million passengers. At this moment it employs 1.034 people.

DAT was founded in Antwerp in 1966 and started collaboration with Sabena immediately thereafter. In 1986 Sabena became shareholder for 49.66%, and in 1996 for 100%.