UAE to blacklist unsafe airlines

Published: 11/7/2009 7:10:00 AM

By Maktoob Business

DUBAI - The UAE aviation regulator is drawing up an airline blacklist in an effort to “clean up” the country’s skies after it was found at least six aircraft operators banned by the EU regularly use airports in the UAE, local daily the National reported on Saturday.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is drawing up the list to close a legal loophole that allows airlines registered abroad to fly in and out of the UAE without undergoing safety inspections, the newspaper reported.

“For that reason, we have started cleaning up the market from those who are misusing the open-sky policy,” Saif al-Suwaidi, director general of the GCAA, was quoted as saying.

Carriers banned by the European Union include passenger and cargo aircraft operators, many of which have been barred from European airspace due to “serious safety deficiencies”, the newspaper said, citing European Commission documents.

Many of the airlines are registered in countries in Eastern Europe and central and south Asia, the paper said.

Among those banned by the EU are Kazakhstan’s East Wing, Ariana Afghan Airlines of Afghanistan, Ukraine Cargo Airways and Kyrgyzstan’s Click Airways, the paper added.

The safety clampdown comes just weeks after a Sudanese cargo plane crashed shortly after take-off from Sharjah airport killing all six crew members on board.

The aircraft’s owner, Azza Air Transport, has been banned from operating in the UAE until authorities have completed the investigation into the crash.

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