Brussels, 25/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The ban on using Filipino airlines in the European Union, which affected nearly all the different airline companies in the country, was lifted by the European Commission on Thursday, 25 June. The latter did not introduce any other bans in this connection.
The European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, stated: “ After 5 years of hard work we are finally able to clear the airlines certified in the Philippines from the European Air Safety List”.
Aviation security experts in the 28 member states met up at the EU Aviation Security Committee on 9-11 June, where they decided to lift the ban according to the terms of Regulation No. 2111/2005 and after receiving a favourable opinion from the Council and European Parliament.
A source close to the dossier explained to EUROPE: “The list will be published this Saturday and will enter into force the following day. It is obvious that Filipino airlines will not be flying in European airspace as early as next Monday. The first effect of this decision will be at a level where Europeans are flying outside the European Union and will be less unwilling to use these companies”. The blacklist of airlines is one of the most consulted pages at the Commission's transport services, explained our source. According to Reuters, Air Asia Philippines is planning to use lines in Europe in three or five year's time.
The ban on activities in European airspace was introduced in 2010 and affected around 30 different companies from the Philippines, with the exception of two handlers (Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air) (see EUROPE 11058).
Around 20 countries whose national handlers do not respect designated international standards are still subject to a comprehensive indeed almost total ban, which affects a total of 232 airlines from flying in EU airspace.
The previous airline blacklist update goes back to December 2014, when the Commission announced the ban on all Libyan handlers in Europe (see EUROPE 11216). The Aviation Security Committee meets up twice a year and is expected to proceed to a re-examination of the EU blacklist at the end of 2015. (Pascal Hansens)