The European Commission has released its eleventh update of the Community’s list of airlines banned in the European Union with good news for four Indonesian carriers which have been removed from the so-called ‘black-list’.

“We cannot afford any compromises in air safety, we have to remain vigilant; citizens have the right to fly safely every where in the world” said European Commission vice president Antonio Tajani announcing the revised list.

“We will not accept that airlines fly at different standards when they operate inside and outside Europe – it is high time that the international community rethinks its safety policy; those airlines which are unsafe should not be allowed to fly anywhere.”

Calling for an international blacklist, Tajani added: “This list has greatly contributed to making Europe’s skies safer. We should gradually move towards an international strategy based on cooperation between countries around the world.”

For the four Indonesian carriers it was a particularly sweet victory being struck off the list. Noting the “significant improvements and accomplishments of the Indonesian civil aviation authority,” in the area of safety, Garuda Indonesia, Airfast Indonesia, Mandala Airlines and Premiair were struck off the list “because their authority ensures that they respect the international safety standards,” the EC said. The four were on the black-list since July 2007 after a string of fatal accidents.

Garuda spokesman, Pujobroto, said the carrier plans to resume flights to the Netherlands, Indonesia’s former colonial power, next year. “We plan to re-open routes to Europe. In the first half of 2010, we may serve a route to Amsterdam. The next could be Frankfurt and London,” he said. The last time Garuda served routes to Europe was in 2004.

The airline also wants to inaugurate services to the US, and plans to double its fleet to 116 aircraft in the next five years, including larger Boeing 777s and Airbus 330-200s, the spokesman added.

Also in Asia, Thai carrier One Two Go has been removed from the list as its certificate has been revoked by the Thai aviation authorities.

The updated list has nine individual carriers whose operations are fully banned in the European Union – Air Koryo from the Democratic People Republic of Korea (DPRK), Air West from Sudan, Ariana Afghan Airlines from Afghanistan, Siem Reap Airways International from Cambodia, Silverback Cargo Freighters from Rwanda, Motor Sich, Ukraine Cargo Airways, Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines and Volare from Ukraine.

Also banned are all carriers (246) from 12 countries – Angola, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, (with the exception of three carriers which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia (with the exception of the four carriers removed from the list), Kazakhstan (with the exception of one carrier which operates under restrictions and conditions), the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and Zambia; seven air carriers which are allowed to operate under restrictions and conditions – TAAG Angola Airlines, Air Astana from Kazakhstan, Gabon Airlines, Afrijet and SN2AG from Gabon, Air Bangladesh and Air Service Comores.