For the first time, the EuropeanCommission (EC) has withdrawn twocarriers from the list of banned airlines,after the carriers took decisive actionto remedy their failings.

African cargo carrier DAS Air Cargo,Dairo Air Services (Uganda / Kenya)and Thailand’s Phuket Air have beenremoved from the list of banned airlines,after proving to the Commissionthat they have now rectified the serioussafety deficiencies that originally led totheir banning from Europe.

According to Jacques Barrot, Commissionvice president responsiblefor transport, this indicates that the’blacklist’ acts not only as essentialprotection against unsafe operations,but also as a strong and effective incentivefor companies who deviate frominternational safety norms to addresstheir shortcomings.

A total of 49 carriers previously includedin the list have been withdrawn,since they have ceased operating. Thiswas either because their countries haverevoked / refused to renew their certificatesor because the airlines themselveshave decided to wind down their activities.These carriers were from Kazakhstan(two), Congo DRC (six), Republic ofLiberia (one), Equatorial Guinea (thirtythree)and Kyrgyz Republic (seven).

Ten companies created in the KyrgyzRepublic (four), Equatorial Guinea(one) and the DRC (five) have beenadded to the Community list for a totalban.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)has been subjected to an operationalrestriction whereby it is allowed to operateinto the Community solely withits Boeing 777 aircraft. The carrieralso operates 747s, 737s, A310s andATR42-500s.

The Commission has taken note ofthe decision by Bulgaria to prohibit fiveBulgarian carriers (Air Sofia, BrightAviation Services, Heli Air Services,Skorpion Air and Vega Airlines) fromoperating into the other EU memberstates as well as into Iceland, Norwayand Switzerland.