EU bans 92 airlines, buries "flying coffins"

March 22, 2006

EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot on Wednesday banned 92 airlines, some planes of which he described as "flying coffins," from landing at European airports, declaring them unsafe by international standards.

"This blacklist will keep dubious airlines out of Europe," Barrot said. "It will also make sure that all airlines operating in Europe's skies meet the highest safety standards."

The airlines categorically banned are:
 * Air Koryo (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea)
 * Air Service (Comores)
 * Ariana Afghan Airlines (Afghanistan)
 * BGB Air (Kazakhstan)
 * GST Aero Air Company (Kazakhstan)
 * Phoenix Aviation (Kyrghizstan)
 * Phuket Airlines (Thailand)
 * Reem Air (Kyrghizstan)
 * Silverback Cargo Freighters (Rwanda)
 * All air carriers certified in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The full list can be found at the EU website (PDF).