The European Union banned on Wednesday more than 90 airlines from operating in the 25-nation bloc, targeting mostly African carriers as it seeks to boost air security and reassure travellers that European skies are safe.
The executive European Commission approved the blacklist of banned carriers, including some 50 airlines from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 13 from Sierra Leone, 11 from Equatorial Guinea, six from Swaziland and three from Liberia.
Thailand's Phuket Airlines was also on the list as were carriers from Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and North Korea.
"The European Union now has a coherent approach to banning airlines," Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said in a statement. "This blacklist will keep dubious airlines out of Europe. It will also make sure that all airlines operating in Europe's sky meet the highest safety standards."
However, the list appeared to include few airlines used for holiday travel by Europeans. EU transport ministers asked the Commission to draw up the blacklist after a spate of accidents with charter carriers.
Barrot acknowledged that many airlines on the list did not fly to or within Europe at this time.
"Basically, we are trying to preempt problems that might arise," he told a news conference. He said it was difficult to say how many airlines on the list had flown in Europe or used European airports.
The list would also help improve safety in Africa and other continents, he said.
All airlines were given an opportunity to defend themselves and can apply to be taken off the list once safety standards are met, the Commission said.
The bans were based on criteria such as old or poorly maintained aircraft, failure to solve problems identified in inspections, and bad oversight by regulatory authorities. The ban applies to both cargo and passenger carriers.
"The Commission advises people to avoid travelling with these airlines in other parts of the world," it said.
The list will be updated at least every three months and is meant to prevent one EU nation allowing a carrier to fly when it is banned in another EU state.
The push for a common list grew last year after four fatal crashes in August alone killed more than 330 people world-wide.
Barrot said other countries such as Japan may make use of the European blacklist. "There may well be a knock-on effect," he said.
The following is the so-called list:
Air carriers completely banned:
Afghanistan: Ariana Afghan Airlines
Comores: Air Service Comores
Democratic Republic of Congo: Africa One, African Company Airlines, Aigle Aviation, Air Boyoma, Air Kasai, Air Navette, Air Tropiques, Air Transport Office, Blue Airlines, Business Aviation, Butembo Airlines, Compagnie Africaine dAviation, Cargo Bull Aviation, Central Air Express, Cetraca Aviation Service, CHC Stelavia, Comair, Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation, C0-ZA Airways, Das Airlines, Doren Aircargo, Enterprise World Airways, Filair, Free Airlines, Galaxy Corporation, GR Aviation, Global Airways, Goma Express, Great Lake Business Company, International Trans Air Business, Jet Aero Services, Kinshasa Airways, Kivu Air, Lignes Aériennes Congolaises, Malu Aviation, Malila Airlift, Mango Mat, Rwabika Bushi Express, Safari Logistics, Services Air, Tembo Air Services, Thom's Airways, TMK Air Commuter, Tracep, Trans Air Cargo Services, TRACO, Uhuru Airlines, Virunga Air Charter, Waltair Aviation, Wimbi Diri Airways
Equatorial Guinea: Air Consul, Avirex Guinee Equatoriale, Compagnie Aeree de Guinee Equatoriale, Ecuato Guineana de Aviacion, Ecuatorial Cargo, Guinea Ecuatorial Airlines, Getra, Jetline Inc, KNG Transavia Cargo, Prompt Air GE SA, Union de Transport Aereo de Guinea Ecuatorial
North Korea: Air Koryo
Kazakhstan: BGB Air, GST Aero Air Company
Kyrgyzstan: Phoenix Aviation, Reem Air
Liberia: International Air Services, Satgur Air Transport, Weasua Air Transport
Rwanda: Silverback Cargo Freighters
Sierra Leone: Aerolift, Afrik Air Links, Air Leone, Air Rum, Air Salone, Air Universal, Destiny Air Services, First Line Air, Heavylift Cargo, Paramount Airlines, Star Air, Teebah Airways, West Coast Airways
Swaziland: African International Airways, Airlink Swaziland, Jet Africa, Northeast Airlines, Scan Air Charter, Swazi Express Airways
Thailand: Phuket Airlines
Air carriers banned from flying certain types of aircraft:
Bangladesh: Air Bangladesh
Democratic Republic of Congo: HBA
Libya: Buraq Air.
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