 |
|
|
All of Indonesia’s airlines have been blacklisted by the European Commission and will be banned from flying to the European Union over security issues, officials announced Thursday.
The European Commission added an operating ban on Indonesia’s 51 airlines, including the national carrier Garuda, as a measure of safety and of informing passengers around the world.
Not only are the Indonesian airlines allowed to fly to the European Union, but citizens of the 27-bloc political body are warned not to use the country’s airlines, according to an EU official who stated: “European citizens should avoid flying with these carriers. They are really unsafe.”
The Commission will also ban the Angolan flag-carrier TAAG Angolan Airlines and Volare Aviation Enterprise of Ukraine, EU officials said. Airlines from Russia, Bulgaria and Moldova will likewise be banned within the bloc for security reasons.
“The EU blacklist will prove to be an essential tool not only to prevent unsafe airlines from flying to Europe, but also to make sure that airlines and civil aviation authorities take appropriate actions to improve safety,” Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said in a statement.
On a lighter note, a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be lifted for specific Boeing 747 and Airbus 310 aircraft within the bloc. The4 Pakistani airline was banned in March this year from flying in the EU unless it used an externally maintained Boeing 777 fleet.
© 2007 - 2009 - eFluxMedia