SABENA Africa Route Map

Dramatic and stylish map showing the routes of Sabena Airlines throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

SABENA: Societé Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne - Belgian Corporation for Air Navigation Services – was the national airline of Belgium from 1923-2001. Initially it was funded, in part, by investors from Belgian Congo, and from 1925 the airline pioneered the now historic route between Brussels and Stanleyville.

The airplane featured appears to be a Douglas DC-6B, used in long-haul flights by SABENA from 1947. The map is decorated with vignettes of Congolese natives, a view of Kano, Nigeria, and a trio of Europeans. Dohet pays homage to the rich history of seventeenth century cartography of the region by including images of galleons, an elaborate compass rose, and mountains, that stylistically resemble the maps of Blaeu and Mercator.