Blacklist committee puts safety pressure on four EU carriers

Safety regulators have identified four European Union companies, which are facing operational restrictions following the latest discussions to update the European Commission's 'blacklist' of banned carriers.

While none features on the latest blacklist revision, three carriers from Portugal, Greece and Germany have - at least temporarily - stopped operating their own aircraft. The fourth, Spain's Bravo Airlines, has been banned by default because its operation, Bravo Air Congo, falls under the blanket ban on the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Greek carrier Hellenic Imperial Airways admits its air operator's certificate is on hold, but a spokesman claims the suspension is on a "day-to-day basis", for technical reasons. He adds that the Boeing 747-200 operator is leasing other aircraft, and maintaining services such as its Hajj flights while it addresses the issue.

Sources at the Commission, close to its air safety committee, have also identified Portuguese Lockheed L-1011 operator LuzAir and German MSR Flug-Charter, which uses business jets, as the other two restricted carriers.

LuzAir says it is not currently operating services but a source at the carrier states that its aircraft are on the ground for "scheduled maintenance". A spokesman for MSR Flug-Charter also says the company has stopped operations, but declines to elaborate.

A source close to the Commission's air safety committee, which draws up the list of carriers which are the subject of concern, points out that none of the four EU operators has had its AOC withdrawn by the relevant national authority. But the source adds that three AOCs and one operating license have been suspended.

Discussions over the current revision to the blacklist have drawn particular attention because restrictions have so far notably focused on carriers, which have limited operations in Europe, from areas such as Africa, Indonesia and Central Asia.

"It is difficult to say how many European airlines would have ended with a full ban or operating restrictions if their authorities had not taken measures on their AOCs or operating licenses," says the source, stressing that the blacklist is only a "measure of last resort", intended as a tool to encourage safety improvements.

Cambodia's Siem Reap Airways International and all carriers from Angola are subject to a complete ban on European operations following the latest blacklist update on 14 November.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news