EU Bans All Indonesian Airlines from Europe

The European Union has put into effect a ban on all Indonesian airlines from the EU, reports the BBC.

The airline bans means the Garuda, the national carrier of Indonesia and other airlines from that country will be joining the list of blacklisted airlines in the EU. New airlines from other countries will also be added. Ten from Russia, six from Bulgaria, eight from Moldova, Angola: TAAG Angola Airlines, and the Ukraine's Volare Aviation Enterprise are also going to be added to the EU airline blacklist.

The ban on Indonesian airlines is being put into effect even though no airlines from the country currently fly to anywhere in Europe. However, this ban should be considered not only by Europeans but people living around the world. Anyone should, if possible, avoid using any of the Indonesian airlines.

A representative from the EU told the BBC that, "European citizens should avoid flying with these carries. They are really unsafe."

There are a total of 51 airlines operating in Indonesia. The EU ban applies to all of theses airlines. Just this year a number of serious incidents involving Indonesian airlines have made headlines. The country's authorities have been warned by the Civil Aviation Organization and the FAA that they are not up to scratch and well below international civil aviation standards. On January first an Indonesian airline crashed into the sea killing 102 passengers and crew. Last March another place went off the runway killing 21 people.

The European Union makes regular updates to the airlines it includes on its blacklist. This latest update not only includes some new additions to the list it also lifts restrictions on another airline. The ban that is currently imposed on Pakistan International Airlines will be loosened. This means that some of the planes used by the airline including its Boeing 747, Boeing and Airbus 310 will be allowed to operate in Europe in addition to its one planes type, the Boeing 777 that is already allowed to operate in Europe.

The most recent changes to the European Union airline blacklist took place just last March. At that time the majority of banned airlines in the EU for African. African airlines made up 74 of the 91 airlines on the list. The next part of the world that had the most airlines banned was Kyrgyzstan.

The commission vice president in charge of transport in the EU, Jacques Barrot said, "Once more, the EU blacklist will prove to be an essential tool not only to prevent unsafe airlines from flying to Europe and to inform passengers travelling worldwide but also to make sure that airlines and civil authorities take appropriate actions to improve safety." (Associated Press)

Here is a full list of blacklisted airlines in the EU, not included the lasted updates just made.

North Korea
Air Koryo
Comoros
Air Service Comores

Afghanistan
Ariana Afghan Airlines

Kazakhstan
BGB Air
GST Aero Air Company
Kyrghizstan
Phoenix Aviation
Reem Air

Thailand
Phuket Airlines

Rwanda
Silverback Cargo Freighters

Democratic Republic of Congo
Africa One

African Company Airlines
Aigle Aviation
Air Boyoma
Air Kasai
Air Navette
Air Tropiques s.p.r.l.
Ato-Air Transport Office
Blue Airlines
Business Aviation s.p.r.l.
Butembo Airlines
CAA-Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation
Cargo Bull Aviation
Central Air Express
Cetraca Aviation Service
CHC Stelavia
Comair
Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation
C0-ZA Airways
Das Airlines
Doren Aircargo
Enterprise World Airways
Filair
Free Airlines
Galaxy Corporation
GR Aviation
Global Airways
Goma Express
Great Lake Business Company
I.T.A.B.-International Trans Air Business
Jetair-Jet Aero Services, s.p.r.l.
Kinshasa Airways, s.p.r.l.
Kivu Air
Lac-Lignes Aériennes Congolaises
Malu Aviation
Malila Airlift
Mango Mat
Rwabika "Bushi Express"
Safari Logistics
Services Air
Tembo Air Services
Thom's Airways
TMK Air Commuter
Tracep
Trans Air Cargo Services
Transports Aeriennes Congolais (Traco)
Uhuru Airlines
Virunga Air Charter
Waltair Aviation
Wimbi Diri Airways
Equatorial Guinea
Air Consul SA
Avirex Guinee Equatoriale
COAGE-Compagnie Aeree de Guinee Equatorial
Ecuato Guineana de Aviacion
Ecuatorial Cargo
GEASA-Guinea Ecuatorial Airlines SA
GETRA-Guinea Ecuatorial de Transportes Ae5eos
Jetline Inc.
KNG Transavia Cargo
Prompt Air GE SA
UTAGE-Union de Transport Aereo de Guinea Ecuatorial

Liberia
International Air Services
Satgur Air Transport, Corp.
Weasua Air Transport, Co. Ltd.

Sierra Leone
Aerolift, Co. Ltd.
Afrik Air Links
Air Leone, Ltd.
Air Rum, Ltd.
Air Salone, Ltd.
Air Universal, Ltd.
Destiny Air Services, Ltd.
First Line Air (SL), Ltd.
Heavylift Cargo
Paramount Airlines, Ltd.
Star Air, Ltd.
Teebah
West Coast Airways Ltd.

Swaziland
African International Airways, (Pty) Ltd.
Airlink Swaziland, Ltd.
Jet Africa
Northeast Airlines, (Pty) Ltd.
Scan Air Charter, Ltd.
Swazi Express Airways

Sources

BBC breaking new report about Indonesian airline ban in the EU
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6248490.stm

Forbes report about EU airline blacklist
http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/06/28/afx3865530.html

Associated Press report on EU airline blacklist
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4927374.html

EU Airline Blacklist
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933529.html