The European Commission today updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union, because they do not meet international safety standards. Following today’s update, all air carriers certified in Suriname and Tanzania have been included on the List and can no longer operate in the EU.
Ensuring the highest level of air safety for Europeans and all other travelling passengers is at the very heart of the Commission’s aviation safety policy. This decision is based on serious safety concerns identified during assessments conducted by European Union aviation safety experts. They revealed that civil aviation authorities in these countries are unable to ensure compliance with international safety standards for air carriers. For Suriname and Tanzania, the identified safety shortcomings cover both operational and regulatory areas. These include a shortage of qualified personnel, ineffective oversight processes in flight operations and airworthiness, and non-compliance with international safety standards by both countries’ civil aviation authorities and certified air carriers.
Background
Today’s update to the EU Air Safety List is based on the unanimous opinion of Member State aviation safety experts, who met in Brussels from 13 to 15 May 2025 under the auspices of the EU Air Safety Committee. This Committee is chaired by the European Commission with support from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The European Parliament’s Transport Committee also supports the update. Decisions under the EU Air Safety List are based on international safety standards, and notably the standards decreed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Following today’s update, a total of 169 airlines are banned from EU skies:
- 142 airlines certified in 17 States (Afghanistan, Angola (with the exception of 2 airlines), Armenia, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, and Tanzania), due to inadequate safety oversight by the aviation authorities from these States;
- 22 airlines certified in Russia, as well as 5 individual airlines from other States, based on serious safety deficiencies identified: Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran), Fly Baghdad (Iraq) and Iraqi Airways (Iraq).
Two additional airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Iran Air (Iran) and Air Koryo (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas said: “Passenger safety remains our top priority. Following a detailed technical assessment, the European Commission has added all air carriers certified in Suriname and Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List due to serious deficiencies in national aviation oversight. We urge both countries to address these issues promptly. The Commission stands ready to support their efforts toward full compliance with international safety standards.”
