EU releases new list of banned airlines

[News_Editor]

EU releases new list of banned airlines

2011-04-20 05:18:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union (EU) on Tuesday announced that its Commission has adopted the 17th update of the list of airlines banned in the EU.

Following the Air Safety Committee meeting carried out two weeks ago, the Commission imposed an operating ban on all air carriers certified in Mozambique in view of the significant deficiencies faced by the civil aviation authorities of this country as reported by the International Civil Aviation Organization in the framework of its Universal Safety Oversight Audit.

In addition, the Commission also imposed restrictions on the two aircraft of type Boeing 767 operated by Air Madagascar given the persisting deficiencies in their operation and oversight.

Given that new airlines were established in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they have been added to the list as all carriers from this state are subject to operating restrictions due to insufficient capacity in the competent authorities to discharge their safety oversight responsibilities at that stage.

Finally, after a lengthy discussion, the Air Safety Committee urged the Commission to intensify its dialogue on aviation safety matters with the Russian Federation to ensure that all aircraft flying into the EU comply with international standards.

The Commission said all decisions were taken with the unanimous support of the Air Safety Committee, which consists of experts from the Member States.

However, the update removes the previous ban on the operations of four Indonesian all cargo air carriers – Cardig Air, Republic Express, Asia Link and Air Maleo. This is due to solid enforcement action taken by the Indonesian authorities to ensure that their operations are safe.

Restrictions on Ukrainian airline UMAir have also been removed after solid evidence showed its performance had improved.

As the authorities of Angola, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have intensified their efforts to enforce the international safety standards, some companies that are no longer engaged in commercial air transport have been taken off the list.

The updated European list includes all carriers certified in 21 states, accounting for 269 known air carriers, whose operations are fully banned in the EU: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon (with the exception of three carriers which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia (with the exception of six carriers), Kazakhstan (with the exception of one carrier which operates under restrictions and conditions), the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia.

The list also includes three individual carriers: Blue Wing Airlines from Surinam, Meridian Airways from Ghana, and Silverback Cargo Freighters from Rwanda.

Additionally, the list includes ten air carriers which are allowed to operate into the EU under strict restrictions and subject to conditions: Air Astana from Kazakhstan, as mentioned before; Air Koryo from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Airlift International from Ghana; Air Service Comores, Afrijet, Gabon Airlines and SN2AG from Gabon; Iran Air; TAAG Angolan Airlines; and Air Madagascar certified in Madagascar.

The new list replaces the previous one established in November 2010 and can already be consulted on the Commission's website.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-20

[geriatrickid]

I wonder what their FF programs are like,

[harrry]

I wonder what their FF programs are like,

They give their <deleted> a free cremation.

[lonewolf99]

I wonder what their FF programs are like,

Hopeless ...is a word that springs to mind. I fly 4 sectors a month with Air Astana (the one Kazack operator listed in brackets in the article but not named and shamed)

Silver class gets me access to what they call a lounge ? You have to pay for everything.....eh ?

To get to Gold level I would have to fly about 12 sectors a month in a calender year (which is probably more than their pilots have to do ?)

But at least they "almost" come up to scratch as far as the EU is concerned....I did not see Ryan Air mentioned (marginally better than walking I heard) (allegedly)

[QED]

Bit worrying to see all Phillipines carriers banned, I quite regularly use Air Philippines for island hopping, and sometimes all the way from BKK

[ESB7]

With the state that Europe is in I would be more inclined to believe for safety in a list of 'banned European carriers' within Africa

[Bakseedaa]

With the state that Europe is in I would be more inclined to believe for safety in a list of 'banned European carriers' within Africa

As a retired licenced maintenance engineer, in the aviation industry, I can honestly say British and American maintenance programmes are the best and strictest in the world. I also worked in Africa and there are many many aeroplanes there that I would not send my wife aboard....let me think about that statement a while....well... not too many..!

[jalansanitwong]

With the state that Europe is in I would be more inclined to believe for safety in a list of 'banned European carriers' within Africa

As a retired licenced maintenance engineer, in the aviation industry, I can honestly say British and American maintenance programmes are the best and strictest in the world. I also worked in Africa and there are many many aeroplanes there that I would not send my wife aboard....let me think about that statement a while....well... not too many..!

British and American standards are better than Australia ??? Which one of those three has never had a jet crash? The main reason why QANTAS is always in the news over incidents is because it will turn its planes around enroute if a problem is detected lea

ving it open to publicity..Everyone else including brits and yanks will simply keep flying on and check the problem at the destination airport.

[happyjune]

"Air Philippines" banned, emm, interesting. Surprising no less.