Government lists banned airlines
The Government has named airlines from eight countries banned from entering UK airspace, following the plane crash in Egypt last week.
Nearly 150 people were killed on Saturday when a plane plunged into the Red Sea near the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The jet was owned by Flash Airlines, an operator banned from flying in Switzerland because of safety fears.
Transport minister Tony McNulty, answering a parliamentary written question, said aircraft operated by airlines from Guinea, Gambia, Liberia and Tajikistan, as well as Central Air Express from the Democratic Republic of Congo would be banned due to “inadequate safety regulation”.
Cameroon Airlines, Albanian Airlines and Star Air and Air Universal of Sierra Leone were also blacklisted, but for reasons covering technical problems to non-payment of fines and poor immigration controls.
RAF-AVIA of Latvia, Enimex of Estonia, Air Bosnia, Inter Trans Air of Bulgaria and Air Memphis of Egypt have also been denied flight clearance since January 1st 2000.
Mr McNulty told MPs: “The UK has one of the most rigorous safety regimes in the world and plays a leading role in seeking to raise international safety standards.
“Since January 1st 2000 a number of airlines have had applications for permits turned down, or would have had an application turned down if one had been received, because of failure to meet ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards or other concerns.
“We require permit applicants, where appropriate, to confirm that aircraft are equipped with certain equipment such as ground-proximity warning systems and the airborne collision avoidance systems. Permit applications have been turned down in the absence of such confirmation.”
