Which airlines are banned from flying in the EU?

After Turkmenistan Airlines is added to the blacklist, The Independent looks at the carriers to avoid

Turkmenistan Airlines was placed on the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)’s blacklist on 4 February, meaning it’s now banned from flying in the EU.

But it’s far from the only carrier to be struck off the EU’s approved list.

Some 116 airlines around the world are currently prohibited, including 21 of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s carriers and all carriers in Liberia.

Some of the airlines are small domestic brands with few aircraft, while others are flag carriers for particular countries.

The majority of the banned airlines are based in Africa and the Middle East.

Blacklisted airlines are those that fall foul of the regulatory oversight standards of the EASA, and are therefore forbidden from entering the airspace of any EU member state.

Airlines may be put on the list for a number of reasons, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). There may be issues with the overall management of the airline and general non-compliance with international regulations and standards; specific safety concerns with some or all of an airline’s aircraft; or issues with the national regulator in a certain country leading to all airlines based in that country being excluded from EU airspace.

Sometimes specific aircraft are banned from the EU but not airlines that operate those aircraft.

Once the UK leaves the EU, technically it will fall outside the control of the EASA; however, it’s unlikely the rules will change in terms of banned airlines.

10 flag carriers currently banned by the EU

Congo Airways (flag carrier of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Eritrean Airlines (flag carrier of Eritrea)

Iraqi Airways (flag carrier of Iraq)

Ariana Afghan Airlines (flag carrier of Afghanistan)

Air Kyrgyzstan (flag carrier of Kyrgyzstan)

All carriers in Liberia

Nepal Airlines Corporation (flag carrier of Nepal)

Sudan Airways (flag carrier of Sudan)

STP Airways (flag carrier of São Tomé and Príncipe)

Air Zimbabwe (flag carrier of Zimbabwe)