EU adds Ukrainian, Iranian airline to its safety blacklist, barring them from flying to EU
iht.com
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union said Tuesday that it had barred a Ukrainian and an Iranian airline from flying to and from the 27-nation union because of safety concerns.
EU transport officials added Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines and Iran's Mahan Air to its airline blacklist because they do not meet EU safety or aviation standards.
Officials said they had received notification of safety concerns from several EU countries concerning the two airlines. Officials from both were questioned by the European Commission in initial safety assessments.
The EU's airline safety blacklist is regularly updated based on recommendations filed by national aviation authorities.
The list, created last year, is part of a European effort to improve passenger safety. It includes more than 150 airlines that are barred from flying to the EU.
Most are from Africa's poorest nations, a vast majority of them from Congo. They can be removed only after meeting international airline safety standards and passing inspection by European experts.
