The EU Air Safety List actually contains two lists. The first list (Annex A) includes all airlines banned from operating in Europe. The second list (Annex B) includes airlines that are restricted from operating under certain conditions in Europe. Both lists are updated regularly and published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Before taking any action based on the information in these lists, all users should ensure they have the latest version.
Latest press release: IP/16/2176, 16/06/2016 
INFORMATION NOTICE
- The EU Safety List (i.e. “Community list of air carriers which are subject to an operating ban within the Community”) is a list of airlines which the European Commission, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 of the European Parliament and the Council of 14 December 2005 on the establishment of a Community list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the Community and on informing air transport passengers of the identity of the operating air carrier and on the basis of the advice of the EU Air Safety Committee, decided to subject to either a complete or a partial operating ban within the European Union, for failure to adhere to the applicable international safety standards.
- Maximum effort has been made to verify the exact identity of all airlines in the EU Safety List, including through the introduction, if known, of the specific unique letter codes assigned to each airline by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), of the State of certification and of the air operator certificate (or operating licence) number.
- Nonetheless, complete verification has not been possible in all cases, owing for example to a lack of information surrounding some airlines that might be operating on the border of, or altogether outside, the recognised international aviation regime. It can therefore not be excluded that there might be airlines which are not banned, but happen to operate under the same trading name as an airline included in the EU Safety List.
- Also, the Commission does not necessarily know the name and other details of each airline that is certified by a country of which all the airlines are subject to an operating ban. Although the name of such airline, unknown to the Commission, will not figure on the EU Safety List, it is nevertheless banned from operating within the European Union because of the ban on all airlines registered in that country.
- Airlines subjected to an operating ban could be permitted to operate within the European Union by using wet-leased aircraft of an airline which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with. The aircraft being used in such operations could be branded as if it belonged to the fleet of the banned airline.
Aviation: Commission updates EU air safety list –Iran and Africa make progressBrussels, 16 June 2016 Today the European Commission updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. Today the European Commission updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. The EU Air Safety List seeks to ensure the highest level of air safety for European citizens, which is a top priority of the Aviation Strategy adopted in December 2015. The EU Air Safety List is one of the Union’s main instruments to meet that objective. Following today’s update, all airlines certified in Zambia are cleared from the list, along with Air Madagascar and three airlines certified in Indonesia (Citilink, Lion Air and Batik Air). In addition most aircraft of Iran Air are allowed to resume operations to the EU. EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said: “Aviation safety is my top priority and today’s update illustrates our continuous efforts to offer the highest level of air safety to European citizens. I am happy to say that after seven years of work and extensive European technical assistance, we were able to clear all Zambian air carriers from the list. Following my visit to Iran in April, a technical assessment was successfully carried out in May. Based on this I am happy to announce that we are now also able to allow most aircraft from Iran Air back into European skies.” The EU Air Safety List not only helps to maintain high levels of safety in the EU, but it also helps affected countries to improve their levels of safety, in order for them to eventually be taken off the list. In addition, the Air Safety List has become a major preventive tool, as it motivates countries with safety problems to act upon them before a ban under the Air Safety List would become necessary. Following today’s update, a total of 216 airlines are banned from EU skies:
An additional six airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Afrijet and Nouvelle Air Affaires SN2AG (Gabon), Air Koryo (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), Air Service Comores (the Comoros), Iran Air (Iran) and TAAG Angola Airlines (Angola). Background information Today’s update of the Air Safety List is based on the unanimous opinion of the safety experts from the Member States who met from 31 May to 2 June within the EU Air Safety Committee (ASC). This Committee is chaired by the European Commission with the support of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Assessment is made against international safety standards, and notably the standards promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). As part of the Aviation Strategy presented in December 2015, the Commission announced its intention to evaluate Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 which establishes the Air Safety List. This evaluation will assess the most efficient ways to further improve the protection of passengers against unsafe air carriers. One such way is to work with aviation authorities worldwide to raise global safety standards. With the support of the European Commission, EASA is therefore implementing technical cooperation projects with partner countries and regions. One example is the SIASA project (Supporting the improvement of air safety in Sub-Saharan Africa). Through this project, EASA works with Sub-Saharan African countries and regional organisations to raise common safety standards, enhance safety oversight and reinforce expertise. More information on technical cooperation projects is available here. For more information: List of airlines banned within the EU Importance of aviation for the European economy EASA Technical Cooperation Projects
[1]Afghanistan, Angola (with the exception of one airline which operates under restrictions and conditions), Benin, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon (with the exception of 2 airlines which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia (with the exception of 7 airlines), Kazakhstan (with the exception of Air Astana), the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nepal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone and Sudan. IP/16/2176 |