EU air safety list grows to 154 airlines
Dhaka: European regulators have updated the EU Air Safety List (ASL), bringing the total number of banned airlines to 154. The 48th update, issued June 9, added Air Express Algeria over serious safety concerns and shortcomings in compliance with international standards.
Air Express Algeria joins 126 airlines across 16 countries banned due to inadequate safety oversight by their respective national aviation authorities.
All carriers certified in 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 are prohibited from operating in European airspace.
Angola's carriers are similarly banned, with exceptions for TAAG Angola Airlines and Heli Malongo.
Additionally, 22 Russia-certified carriers are on the list, alongside Air Zimbabwe, Avior Airlines of Venezuela, Iran Aseman Airlines, and Iraq's Fly Baghdad and Iraq Airways, all flagged for serious safety deficiencies.
Iran Air and North Korea's national carrier face operational restrictions rather than outright bans, permitting them to fly in Europe only on specific aircraft.
On a positive note, all Kyrgyzstan-certified carriers have been removed from the list, recognizing the country's progress in strengthening aviation safety oversight over the past two decades.
The ASL, now in its 20th year, is maintained by the European Commission with support from the EU Air Safety Committee — comprising aviation safety experts from all member states — and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
A carrier earns a ban or restriction by failing to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. An entire country's airlines can be listed if the national aviation authority fails to uphold international safety oversight obligations.
The Commission also highlights the list's deterrent effect, noting that countries under scrutiny often improve safety practices to avoid placement on it.
The ASL has no fixed update schedule, though the Air Safety Committee meets roughly two to three times annually. Updates can also be triggered by requests from EU member states.
The list significantly influences traveler behavior. An Eurobarometer survey found 81% of respondents would take action upon learning an airline appeared on the blacklist, with 36% saying they would avoid booking with that carrier entirely.
