The European Commission published a new update, in particular the 19th update of the European list of air carriers which are for safety reasons subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. Among the most recently incorporations to the list, Conviasa, an air carrier certified in Venezuela.

The 19th update of the European list of air carriers in which there are companies that for safety reasons are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union, has been published by the European Commission. As new incorporation to the list – the last update was released in November 2011, and the previous one in April of the same year, isConviasa, a certified in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. It was rendered necessary due to numerous safety concerns arising from accidents and the results of ramp checks at EU airports. The safety performance of two other Venezuelan air carriers, Estellar Latinoamerica and Aerotuy, was also reviewed in depth; however, measures were not considered necessary at this stage. Nonetheless, these two air carriers remain subject to increased monitoring.

In addition, the European Commission confirms the serious concerns identified regarding the safety oversight of air carriers licensed in Libya. Thus, the Libyan civil aviation authorities have adopted restrictions applicable to all air carriers licensed in Libya, which exclude them from flying into the EU with immediate effect and until at least 22 November 2012. On this basis, the Commission considered that inclusion of Libyan air carriers in the EU air safety list was not necessary. Nonetheless, implementation of the measures decided by the Libyan authorities remains subject to close monitoring.

In total, the updated European air safety list includes all carriers certified in 21 States, accounting for 279 known air carriers, whose operations are fully banned in the European Union: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon (with the exception of three carriers which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia (with the exception of six carriers), Kazakhstan (with the exception of one carrier which operates under restrictions and conditions), Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia.