Tanzania’s National carrier has been banned from flying into the European Union airspace and landing onto all EU destinations
The European Commission has just updated the EU Air Safety List, comprising of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union, with Air Tanzania being included.
The Wings of Kilimanjaro clipped in Europe
Air Tanzania, Air Zimbabwe and other airlines making the European Union’s red list reportedly do not meet international safety standards.
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.
The basis for this decision to restrict the Tanzanian airline from flying to Europe according to an official statement, is due to safety concerns as identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
These also led to the decision not to grant Air Tanzania a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide. We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism
Commissioner Tzitzikostas also welcomed EASA’s positive decision on 29 November 2024 to lift the Third Country Operator (TCO) suspensions imposed on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended in 2020, PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) have made substantial progress in improving safety performance and oversight capabilities.
PIA is now allowed to resume operations to the EU. Furthermore, Airblue Limited, another Pakistani airline has also received EASA’s TCO Authorisation.
Following today’s update, a total of 129 airlines are banned from EU skies:
- 100 airlines certified in 15 States, due to inadequate safety oversight by the aviation authorities from these States.
- 22 airlines certified in Russia, as well as seven individual airlines from other States, based on serious safety deficiencies identified: Air Tanzania (Tanzania), Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), Blue Wing Airlines (Suriname), 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 (North Korea).
Background
The update to the EU Air Safety List is based on the unanimous opinion of Member State aviation safety experts, who met in Brussels on 19 to 21 November 2024 under the auspices of the EU Air Safety Committee. This Committee is chaired by the European Commission with support from 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).