Key facts
- The EU Air Safety List now bans 154 airlines from operating in Europe.
- Air Express Algeria was added to the list due to serious safety concerns.
- Airlines are banned if they fail to meet international safety standards or if their national aviation authorities have inadequate oversight.
- All carriers from 16 specific countries are banned, with some exceptions for Angola.
- Several Russian-certified carriers and specific airlines from Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, and Zimbabwe are also banned.
- Kyrgyzstan-certified carriers have been removed from the banned list following progress in safety oversight.
The European Union has updated its Air Safety List (ASL), a compilation of airlines banned or restricted from operating within EU airspace due to safety concerns. The latest update, the 48th of its kind, saw Air Express Algeria added to the list, bringing the total number of banned airlines to 154.
According to the European Commission, the decision to ban Air Express Algeria was based on "serious safety concerns" and "shortcomings in the airlines’ compliance with international safety standards." This addition means Air Express Algeria joins 126 other airlines across 16 countries that are on the ASL due to inadequate safety oversight by their respective national aviation authorities.
The ban extends to all carriers certified in countries such as Afghanistan, Armenia, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, and Tanzania. All air carriers from Angola are also banned, with the exception of TAAG Angola Airlines and Heli Malongo.
Furthermore, 22 Russia-certified carriers, along with Air Zimbabwe, Avior Airlines, Iran Aseman Airlines, Fly Baghdad, and Iraq Airways, are banned due to significant "safety deficiencies." Iran Air and carriers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea face operational restrictions, allowing them to fly in Europe only with specific aircraft.
In a positive development, all Kyrgyzstan-certified carriers have been removed from the banned list, acknowledging the country's progress in strengthening its aviation safety oversight over the past two decades. The ASL, now in its 20th year, is updated periodically by the Air Safety Committee, which comprises aviation safety experts from EU Member States and is supported by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
The list serves as a deterrent, encouraging countries to improve their safety oversight to avoid having their carriers blacklisted. A survey indicated that a significant majority of travelers would take action if an airline appeared on the blacklist, with many stating they would avoid booking with such carriers.