Black List of Banned Airlines

The European Commission recently approved the eighth update of the ‘black list’ of airline companies that are banned from flying to European Union countries due to security issues.

With this update the Commission lifted the ban on Iranian carrier Mahan Airlines as it was ascertained that the carrier had made significant efforts and progress during on-the-spot inspections in Iran.

According to the Commission, Gabon Airlines and Afrijet -which already fly within the EU- may continue to perform their routes but under strict administration of efficient and detailed inspections prior to each flight.

It also decided to sustain the ban on all airborne activities of Ukraine Cargo Airways as the air company has yet to implement its plan of corrective measures successfully.

As for airline carriers from Cambodia and the Philippines, the Commission considers that it would be premature to withdraw these airlines from the ‘black list.’

As well, it examined the performance of Yemenia Airways in terms of security and decided that the company should complete its plan of corrective action until the next committee meeting on aviation security.

Hence, with the approved ‘black list,’ the Community’s list contains some 160 airline companies whose operators are restricted or fully banned in the European Union and includes all carriers from Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon (with the exception of Gabon Airlines and Afrijet).