02/06/2022 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 1 June, the European Commission announced that it had added the Russian airline I Fly to the list of airlines subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions in the EU. A previous update of the blacklist took place in April (see EUROPE 12930/4). The European Commission added 20 Russian airlines that do not meet international safety standards, following Moscow’s decision to allow flights without a valid certificate of airworthiness for aircraft leased and not returned to European companies (see EUROPE 12924/11). “This decision is not a new sanction against Russia. It was taken solely on technical and safety grounds”, added Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean. To date, some 118 airlines are banned from flying in the EU. (TM)