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List of airlines banned in the European Union

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  All airlines banned.
  Some airlines banned.
  Some airlines banned and some under Annex B restrictions.
  Some airlines under Annex B restrictions.
  No airlines banned and still allowed to fly in the airspace.

The European Union (EU) publishes a list of air carriers that are banned from entering the airspace of any of its member states, usually for failing to meet EU regulatory oversight standards. The first version of the list was published in 2006, on the legal basis of Regulation No. 474/2006 of the European Commission, issued on 22 March of that year. The current version of the list was published on 30 May 2024.[1]

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The process by which an air carrier is listed is laid out in Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 of the European Parliament and Council. It involves consultation among the regulatory agencies of the member states, the institutions of the European Community, the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of the air carrier concerned, and the air carrier itself. Before being listed, each air carrier has the right of appeal. The list is subject to periodic review.

In June 2016, all restrictions on Air Madagascar, Iran Air, Lion Air, Citilink, Batik Air, and all Zambian airlines were removed from the list of air carriers banned in the EU.[2]

On 30 November 2017, Avior Airlines from Venezuela was added to the list because of "unaddressed safety deficiencies." No further details were given at the time.[3]

On 14 June 2018, all remaining Indonesian airlines not already removed from the list were removed from the list of air carriers banned in the EU.[4]

On 3 February 2019, Turkmenistan Airlines was banned from European Union airspace, "pending confirmation that it meets international air safety standards",[5] but the ban was lifted on 16 October 2019.[6]

On 8 December 2019, Gabon's airlines were removed from the list, while the Armenian Civil Aviation Committee was "put under heightened scrutiny because of signs of a decrease in safety oversight",[7] and a new update to the list was published on the next day.

As of January 2020, Syria’s airlines are not specifically mentioned on the list, but in practice there is a ban against them in the context of the general EU sanctions against Syria.[8]

On 30 June 2020, EASA suspended Pakistan International Airlines authorisation to operate to the EU member states for a period of 6 months to Europe after the crash of flight PK8303 and subsequent PIA Pilot License scandal.[9] In late 2020 and early 2021, the ban was extended by another three months and later indefinitely.[10][11] In mid 2023, PIA reportedly passed an initial online EASA Safety Audit[12] with in-person visit by EASA team scheduled for late November 2023.[13][14] As of 30 November 2023, PIA does not figure on the EU Air Safety List.[15]

In response to the government of Belarus forcing Ryanair Flight 4978 to divert and land in Minsk to arrest dissident Roman Protasevich, EU leaders announced that they would ban Belarusian carriers from using EU airspace and vice versa on 24 May 2021.[16]

In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen announced that Russian owned, Russian registered or Russian controlled aircraft would not be permitted to take-off, land, or overfly EU airspace.[17]

List of air carriers

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Banned airlines by country

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Banned air carriers could be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with. The list includes the following airlines, with the airline license having been issued in the respective countries:

Country Banned airlines Notes
 Afghanistan All Banned in 2010 for lacking a viable aviation safety regime.[18]
 Angola All except TAAG Angola Airlines and Heli Malongo Airways
 Armenia All
 Belarus All Ban in response to the diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978 to Minsk.[19] The ban has also been extended due to involvement in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
 Democratic Republic of the Congo All
 Republic of the Congo All
 Djibouti All
 Equatorial Guinea All CEIBA Intercontinental operates flights to Madrid via a wetlease with White Airways
 Eritrea All
 Iran Mahan Air & Iran Aseman Airlines Iran Air's Fokker 100s are subject to restrictions under Annex B.
 Iraq All
 Kyrgyzstan All
 Liberia All
 Libya All
   Nepal All Banned - Single authority for aviation regulation and operation creates conflict of interest.[20]
 Russia All Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[21]
 São Tomé and Príncipe All
 Sierra Leone All
 Sudan All
 Suriname Blue Wing Airlines
 Syria All Banned as part of the general EU sanctions against Syria.[8]
 Turkey Southwind Airlines Banned for suspected ties to Russia.[22]
 Venezuela Avior Airlines
 Zimbabwe Air Zimbabwe

Annex B

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Annex B of the EU list covers airlines which are restricted to operating only certain aircraft within the EU.

Country of operator Restricted airlines Aircraft permitted Country of aircraft registry
 Iran Iran Air All except all Fokker 100 and Boeing 747 aircraft currently on its AOC  Iran
 North Korea Air Koryo 2 Tupolev Tu-204 registered P-632, P-633  North Korea

See also

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References

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Bibliography

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Citations

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  1. ^ "The EU Air Safety List". European Commission for Transport. European Commission. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  2. ^ "EU allows Iran's state carrier to resume flights in bloc". Reuters. 16 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Venezuelan airline barred from European Union skies". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Aviation Safety: Commission removes all airlines from Indonesia from EU Air Safety List".
  5. ^ Calder, Simon (4 February 2019). "Flights cancelled for thousands of British passengers after EU bans Turkmenistan airline". The Independent. London.
  6. ^ Gurt, Marat; Auyezov, Olzhas; Goodman, David (17 October 2019). "EU lifts ban on Turkmenistan Airlines". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Aviation Safety: Commission adopts new EU Air Safety List<!lang>" (Press release). 8 December 2019.
  8. ^ a b "EU Sanctions Map". 10 December 2019. Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent access to the airports of cargo flights operated by Syrian carriers and flights operated by Syrian Arab Airlines.
  9. ^ "PIA banned from flying to EU states for six months". Dawn. 30 June 2020.
  10. ^ Asghar, Azfar (8 April 2021). "European Union Aviation Safety Agency extends travel restrictions on PIA". Dawn. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  11. ^ Nuzhat Nazar; Wasim Iqba (16 March 2021). "EU, US and UK operations: PIA has to wait until July". Brecorder. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  12. ^ "EASA clears PIA in remote audit". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ^ Khan, Naimat (25 November 2023). "European delegation's visit to Pakistan next week raises hope for lifting PIA's flight ban". Arab News. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ "PIA likely to get nod for Europe, UK flights". Ary News. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  15. ^ "EASA's audit report clears way for PIA's direct flights to Europe". Lead Pakistan. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  16. ^ "EU leaders agree on Belarus sanctions after plane diversion". Associated Press. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Ukraine invasion: EU to close airspace to all Russian planes and ban Kremlin-backed media". Sky News. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  18. ^ Harrison, Pete (23 November 2010). "Europe bans all Afghan airlines from its airspace". Reuters.
  19. ^ "EU leaders agree on Belarus sanctions after journalist's arrest". Al Jazeera. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  20. ^ Republica. "Nepal's efforts fall short as EU retains Nepali airlines on air safety blacklist". My Republica. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Ukraine invasion: EU shuts airspace to Russian planes". BBC. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Media: EU bans Turkish airline due to links with Russia". The Kyiv Independent. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
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