The EU on Tuesday removed Benin and Mozambique from its aviation safety blacklist, EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, has said.
According to the commissioner. airlines certified by Benin and Mozambique will be allowed to fly to and from airports in the EU.
The list, which is compiled by EU aviation safety experts, restricts air carriers from operating in Europe if they are certified by a state lacking safety oversight or if there are safety issues detected with the airlines themselves.
The European Commission said that oversight mechanisms in Benin and Mozambique had improved to meet international safety standards and the airlines from those countries can be removed from the blacklist.
Bulc, said: “I am glad that we are able to take all carriers from Benin and Mozambique out of the air safety list.
“Their reforms have paid off.”
The commission has also decided to add four individual air carriers to the list due to safety deficiencies: Med-View of Nigeria, Mustique Airways of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Aviation Company Urga of Ukraine, and Air Zimbabwe.
Following the update, a total of 181 airlines remain on the aviation safety list, with 16 countries classified as having inadequate safety oversight. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/SH