Brussels, 04/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - Mauritania has been removed from the blacklist of air transporters in the latest update. Added to the list, however, is Eritrea. The situation with Libya has been improving and the carrier Jordan Aviation has made good progress.
The 20th update of the list of air carriers banned from operating or subject to operational restrictions within the European Union was published on Tuesday 4 December. Mauritania is no longer on the list since all the country's certified carriers have made substantial progress in terms of safety. Visits by two teams from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have acknowledged the progress. An on-site verification visit will shortly be conducted by the Commission.
Eritrean air carriers, however, have been added to the list after serious safety issues were noted by ICAO, issues which have yet to be properly addressed. European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas promises that “the Commission is ready to spare no effort to assist countries affected by the safety list in building technical and administrative capacity to overcome the difficulties in the area of safety as quickly and as efficiently as possible”.
Libya remains on the blacklist, although progress was noted. The Libyan authorities themselves decided not to authorise flights to the EU until carriers have been fully re-certified to the satisfaction of the Commission.
The update brings good news for Jordan Aviation. Following an on-site assessment, it was determined that safety deficiencies had all been successfully resolved. Similarly, no Rwandan or Honduran carrier features on the list. Kallas, therefore, declares himself satisfied that “one country and several airlines have been removed from the list. This is important progress. But safety must always come first and we cannot accept any compromise in this area, hence the decision on Eritrea”. (MD/transl.fl)