The European Commission (EC) has removed all Philippine-registered airlines, including Cebu Pacific and Air Asia Philippines, from its newly updated list of carriers banned from operating in EU airspace. The EC had already lifted flight restrictions on Philippine Airlines (PAL) back in 2013 allowing the national carrier to resume flights to destinations in the EU after a 15 year hiatus.

Violeta Bulc, EU commissioner for Transport said: “After five years of hard work we are finally able to clear the airlines certified in the Philippines. Today’s result can serve as an example for other countries that have difficulty to match their safety oversight capabilities with the growth of their industry.

I am also pleased to see that other countries made good progress too. The commission is continuously monitoring developments in third countries to ensure that airlines flying into the EU are up to the highest safety standards.”

The EC says its list is based on airlines that are either considered not to be able to respect international aviation safety standards, or “whose civil aviation authorities are deemed unable to provide the necessary safety oversight as foreseen by international aviation safety rules”.