Brussels, 03/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - The black list of airlines banned from operating in the EU is on the move. Venezuela has now been put on the list because of its carrier, Conviasa. Libyan carriers have missed being added to the list by a hair's breadth, but will nonetheless not fly in the direction of Europe until autumn at least.
On Tuesday 3 April, the European Commission announced the latest modifications made to the list of companies banned from operating in Europe, thus bringing to 21 the number of third countries concerned, with 279 airlines being banned from operating in Europe. Following on-the-ground inspections in Europe and recurrent safety problems, the Venezuelan airline, Conviasa, is banned from operating in Europe. Other Venezuelan air carriers are under heightened surveillance but do not appear on the list at this stage. As safety oversight of companies holding a licence in Libya leaves much to be desired, the Commission has reached an amicable agreement with the Libyan civil aviation authorities. The latter have now placed a ban on Libyan airlines flying to Europe, until November at least. This means they will not be added to the black list but that implementation of the restrictions imposed will be closely monitored.
Other airlines have, however, been put on the list. These are from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Jet Congo Airways), Equatorial Guinea (Punto Azul), Indonesia (TransNusa Aviation Mandiri, Enggang Air Service, Surya Air, Ersa Eastern Aviation and Matthew Air Nusantara), Mauritania (Mauritania Airlines), and the Philippines (Aero Equipment Aviation Inc, Air Asia Philippines, Certeza Infosys Corp., Mid-Sea Express, Southern Air Flight Services, NorthSky Air Inc. and Island Helicopter Services). (MD/transl.jl)