On 30 November 2017, the European Commission updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of non-European airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union.

The update of the Air Safety List is based on the unanimous opinion of the aviation safety experts from the Member States who met from 13 to 15 November within the EU Air Safety Committee (ASC), chaired by the European Commission with the support of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Assessment was made according to international safety standards, and notably the standards promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Following the update, Avior Airlines, certified in Venezuela, is added to the list due to unaddressed safety deficiencies that were detected by the European Aviation Safety Agency during the assessment for a Third Country Operator authorisation (TCO). This authorisation is needed by all non-EU airlines wishing to fly to the EU.

Moreover, Mustique Airways and Aviation Company Urga, respectively certified in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Ukraine, were removed from the list due to the safety improvements they made.

The EU Air Safety List includes now 178 airlines, of which 176 are due to the lack of security controls by State authorities, and six for reasons related to the airlines themselves (Avior Airlines in Venezuela, Iran Aseman Airlines in Iran, Iraqi Airways in Iraq, Blue Wing Airlines in Suriname, Med-View Airlines in Nigeria e Air Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe).

Sara Capruzzi