Libyan airlines still remains banned in EU

The European Union Wednesday decided to lift the ban on Philippine Airlines and Conviasa airlines of Venezuela from flying into the EU following improvements in their safety standards but continued the ban on Libyan airlines. An European Commission statement said that consultations were held with the civil aviation authorities of Libya. "Progress was noted, but the Libyan civil aviation authorities agreed to maintain the voluntary restrictions applicable to all airlines licensed in Libya. This voluntary restriction excludes Libyan airlines from flying into the EU until when they will be fully recertified in accordance with international safety standards," it noted. The EU's executive body today updated the European list of airlines subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. Siim Kallas, Commission Vice-President responsible for transport, said in press statements that "beside Philippines, Venezuela and Mauritania, good signs of progress are also coming from a number of other African countries." In December 2012, Mauritania was fully removed from the EU air safety list, where it was added in 2010. The updated EU air safety list includes all airlines certified in 20 states, for a total of 280 airlines fully banned from EU skies: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon (with the exception of 3 airlines which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia (with the exception of 5 airlines), Kazakhstan (with the exception of one airline which operates under restrictions and conditions), Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mozambique, Philippines (with the exception of one airline), Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia. The list also includes 2 individual airlines: Blue Wing Airlines from Surinam and Meridian Airways from Ghana. Additionally, the list includes 10 airlines subject to operational restrictions and thus allowed to operate into the EU under strict conditions: Air Astana from Kazakhstan, Afrijet, Gabon Airlines, and SN2AG from Gabon, Air Koryo from the Democratic People Republic of Korea, Airlift International from Ghana, Air Service Comores from the Comores, Iran Air from Iran, TAAG Angolan Airlines from Angola and Air Madagascar from Madagascar