The European Commission has updated its list of airlines banned from operating in the European Union (EU), adding Venezuela’s Avior Airlines and removing Mustique Airways, certified in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Urga, certified in Ukraine.
The EU Air Safety List. also known as the EU blacklist, now includes 178 banned airlines, including all 172 airlines certified in 16 countries, because of what the Commission considers poor safety oversight by those countries’ aviation authorities, and six individual airlines, because of safety concerns involving their operations. Six other airlines are permitted to fly to EU airports only with specific aircraft types.
“Our objective is to offer the highest level of safety in European skies,” said Violeta Bulc, commissioner for transport. “The EU’s Air Safety list remains one of our most effective tools to achieve this. Today we are showing that with our help, airlines can be quickly removed from the list when they tackle their safety issues. Work pays off, and I hope that the example of Mustique airways and Urga will inspire others.”
The 16 countries where all airlines are banned from operating in the EU are Afghanistan, Angola (except for one airline operating under restrictions), Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon (except for two airlines operating under restrictions), Indonesia (except for seven airlines operating under restrictions), the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Sudan.
Besides Avior, the individual banned airlines are Iran Aseman Airlines; Iraqi Airways; Blue Wing Airlines, certified in Suriname; Med-View Airlines, certified in Nigeria; and Air Zimbabwe.
he six airlines subject to operating restrictions are Afrijet and Nouvelle Air Affaires SN2AG, both of Gabon; Air Koryo of North Korea; Air Service Comores of the Comoros; Iran Air and TAAG Angola Airlines.