MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambican Air Companies Banned From EU Airspace

The European Commission has announced that all Mozambican air companies remain on its blacklist of airlines that are not allowed to operate in the air space of the European Union.

According to a press release issued in Brussels on Thursday, the EU Commission stated that 214 airlines from 19 countries are banned from operating in EU airspace due to a lack of oversight by the aviation authorities in those states. In addition, six airlines, including Angola's national airline, TAAG, are subject to operational restrictions.

Mozambique was placed on the blacklist in 2011, not because of any safety problems with Mozambique Airlines (LAM) or any other Mozambican air company, but because the regulator, the Mozambique Civil Aviation Authority (IACM), was accused of failing to meet EU standards.

The ban has no practical effect as LAM does not operate any intercontinental flights. The only EU airline to fly to Maputo is the Portuguese company, TAP. The other companies operating intercontinental routes from Maputo are Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

Several countries have made progress. All airlines certified in Zambia are cleared from the list, along with Air Madagascar and three airlines certified in Indonesia (Citilink, Lion Air and Batik Air). In addition most aircraft of Iran Air are allowed to resume operations to the EU.