EU Updates Air Safety List, Imposes Ban on Air Tanzania

Photo source: Air Tanzania

The European Commission has updated its EU Air Safety List, which includes airlines that do not meet international safety standards and are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union.

As part of the recent update, Air Tanzania has been added to the list due to safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This decision also led to the refusal to grant the flag carrier airline of Tanzania a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.

“The inclusion of Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List reaffirms our commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and around the world,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. “We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues.”

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.

Tzitzikostas also offered the Commission’s assistance to Tanzanian authorities in improving Air Tanzania’s safety performance and ensuring full compliance with international aviation standards.

129 airlines banned from EU skies

With this update, a total of 129 airlines are now banned from flying in the EU:

– 100 airlines certified in 15 states, due to inadequate safety oversight by their respective aviation authorities.
– 22 airlines certified in Russia, as well as 7 individual airlines from other states, based on serious safety deficiencies. This includes Air Tanzania, Air Zimbabwe, Avior Airlines, Blue Wing Airlines, Iran Aseman Airlines, Fly Baghdad, and Iraqi Airways.

Additionally, two airlines are subject to operational restrictions, which limit them to flying to the EU with specific aircraft types: Iran Air and Air Koryo.

Positive update: Pakistan International Airlines

Commissioner Tzitzikostas also welcomed EASA’s decision on November 29 to lift the TCO suspensions imposed on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Since the suspension in 2020, PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) have made significant progress in improving safety performance and oversight. PIA is now authorized to resume operations to the EU. Furthermore, Airblue Limited, another Pakistani airline, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.

The update to the EU Air Safety List reflects the unanimous opinion of aviation safety experts from EU member states, who convened in Brussels from November 19-21 under the auspices of the EU Air Safety Committee. This committee, chaired by the European Commission and supported by EASA, works in close collaboration with the European Parliament’s Transport Committee. All decisions regarding the EU Air Safety List are based on international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The full list of banned airlines can be seen here.