TEMPO.CO, Brussels-The European Commission said Iranian state carrier IranAir can resume flights in the EU, along with Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air, a major buyer of Airbus and Boeing jets, which has been removed from a safety blacklist.
The decision could potentially lead Lion Air to buy more planes, analysts have said.
Following a visit to Iran by the EU executive in April, most of IranAir's aircraft have been allowed to resume operations in the European Union, the Commission said in a statement on Thursday.
As some of its aircraft are still banned IranAir will technically still be on the blacklist, however.
"I am happy to announce that we are now also able to allow most aircraft from IranAir back into European skies," said EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc.
The EU executive also removed Indonesia's Citilink, Batik Air and all Zambian airlines from the blacklist.
Following today's update, based on a press release from European Commision dated June 16, 2016, a total of 216 airlines are banned from EU skies. As many as 214 airlines certified in 19 European states, due to a lack of safety oversight by the aviation authorities from these states.
Meanwhile, the other two airlines are individual airlines banned based on safety concerns; Iraqi Airways (Iraq) and Blue Wing Airlines (Suriname).
An additional six airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Afrijet and Nouvelle Air Affaires SN2AG (Gabon), Air Koryo (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Air Service Comores (the Comoros), Iran Air (Iran) and TAAG Angola Airlines (Angola).
REUTERS
