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Escape: EXPERT TRAVELLER: WHICH ARE... THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS AIRLINES?:
8 April 2007
Guardian & Observer


Europe's aviation safety record is among the best in the world, thanks
partly to the EU banning those airlines that don't come up to scratch.

The European Commission for Transport publishes a list of the banned
airlines, and though most are operating in destinations rarely used by tourists,
it's useful to know which ones our authorities consider too risky to use if
you're heading off the beaten track.

There are around 100 banned airlines, mostly from Africa, and a
whopping 50 of them are operated out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the
ironically named Safe Air Company. Six others operate from Equatorial
Guinea, seven out of Swaziland and nine out of Sierra Leone, including Air Rum
- a clue to the poor safety record, perhaps? Elsewhere, you should perhaps give
a ride with Ariana Afghan Airlines a miss, and avoid Air Koryo of North
Korea, and 25 airlines from Kyrgyzstan which are banned.

A couple that you are perhaps more likely to use, but that are only
allowed to operate under strict operational restrictions, are Air Bangladesh and
Pakistan International Airlines.

The European Commission warns that it can only include airlines it has
itself inspected, so if an airline is not on the list, it doesn't necessarily
mean that it meets safety standards.
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To see the up to date list go to:  http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/pdf/list_en.pdf
 

 

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