- The European Union has banned eight airlines operating in Benin from flying to Europe due to safety concerns. The commission regularly publishes a list of passenger and cargo airliners which are banned from flying to its 27 member countries because they are not considered safe enough.
The bloc said the ban on all airlines certified in the western African country of Benin is justified by the negative results of an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
EU Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani said air passengers are entitled to feel safe and be safe, further stating that all carriers must conform to internationally required levels of air safety.
"The Commission will continue close consultations with the aviation authorities with a view to re-assessing the safety situation at the next meeting of the Air Safety Committee," the Commission said. The committee meets next in July when a review of the decision can be made.
Local reports said the latest blacklist is the tenth update first drawn up by the EU in March 2006 with more than 90 airlines mainly from Africa having been banned. The ban already covers carriers from nations including Angola, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Rwanda and other Asian countries.
The EU imposed harsh measures on passenger carriers following airline crashes in 2004 and 2005 that killed hundreds of European travelers.
The list, updated at least four times a year, is based on deficiencies found during checks at European airports, the use of antiquated aircraft by companies and shortcomings by non-EU airline regulators.
The other airlines added to the barred carriers are Kazakhstan’s Air Company Kokshetau, ATMA Airlines, Berkut Air, East Wing, Sayat Air and Starline KZ, Thailand’s One-Two-Go Airlines and Ukraine’s Motor Sich Airlines, according to the EU.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español