EU updates airspace backlist, all airlines from Tanzania and Suriname added

On June 3, 2025, the European Commission (EC) updated its no-fly list, banning airlines from certain countries from European airspace on safety grounds. The latest update of the blacklist is based on the unanimous opinions of European Union (EU) member state aviation safety experts, who met in Brussels from May 13 to May 15, 2025, under the auspices of the EU Air Safety Committee.

The Committee is chaired by the European Commission with support from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (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).

Following the latest update, a total of 169 airlines are now banned from EU skies. This includes 142 airlines registered in 17 states including Afghanistan, Angola (except for 2 airlines), Armenia, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, and Tanzania.

The official reason given for the countries’ presence on the blacklist is “due to inadequate safety oversight by the aviation authorities of these states”, said an EC statement.

InsectWorld / ShutterstockAdditionally, 22 airlines certified in Russia, as well as five individual airlines from other states, based on serious safety deficiencies identified were also included on the latest list – Air Zimbabwe of Zimbabwe, Avior Airlines of Venezuela, Iran Aseman Airlines from Iran, plus Fly Baghdad and Iraqi Airways (both of Iraq). Two additional airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types. These included Iran Air of Iran and Air Koryo, registered in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

“Passenger safety remains our top priority,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. “Following a detailed technical assessment, the European Commission has added all air carriers certified in Suriname and Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List due to serious deficiencies in national aviation oversight. We urge both countries to address these issues promptly. The Commission stands ready to support their efforts toward full compliance with international safety standards,” he added.

Tanzania and Suriname

All airlines based in both Tanzania and Suriname have been added to the list for the first time. The blanket ban follows a decision taken by the EC back in late 2024 to ban Tanzania’s flag carrier, Air Tanzania, from operating in EU airspace on safety grounds, plus an earlier decision to ban one carrier from Suriname in the form of Blue Wing Airlines. This carrier has been banned since 2006 and will remain so under the latest update to the blacklist.

The Commission says the prohibition has been imposed on both Tanzania and Suriname because the civil aviation regulators in both countries are “unable to ensure compliance” with international safety standards. “This decision is based on serious safety concerns identified during assessments conducted by European Union aviation safety experts,” said the EC in a statement, adding that safety irregularities had been discovered in both operational and regulatory areas. “These include a shortage of qualified personnel [as well as] ineffective oversight processes in flight operations and airworthiness,” said the statement.

Joao Fachetti / Shutterstock“We urge both countries to address these issues promptly,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas. “The Commission stands ready to support their efforts toward full compliance with international safety standards.”

According to ch-aviation, Air Tanzania operates a fleet of 16 aircraft, which includes four Airbus A220s, two Boeing 737-900s, and three 787- 8s, among other types. The airline operates 48 routes flying to 28 destinations in 12 countries. In terms of Suriname, the country’s main carrier, Surinam Airways, employs a pair of Boeing 737-800s plus a leased Airbus 340-600. The airline flies 14 routes to nine destinations in nine countries.

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