Gabon given access to EU airspace after 11 years
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Topics: GABON AIRSPACE
The country was withdrawn from the list following its “improvements in aviation safety”.
Airlines in Gabon such as the National Regional Transport (NRT), Solenta Aviation Gabon, Tropical Air Gabon and Afrijet Business Service can commence flights to Europe.
Gabon has been removed from the list that banned its airlines from accessing the European Union airspace.
The list is meant to ensure the highest level of air safety for passengers travelling to and within the European Union.
EU Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean was quoted by CTGN saying, “I am pleased to announce that the European Commission was able today to clear all Gabonese air carriers from the EU Air Safety List.
“Gabon was on the List already since 2008, so it is very good that we can recognise the efforts the aviation safety authorities in Gabon have made.”
Other African countries that remain banned include carriers based in the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Liberia, Libya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Sudan.
Certain airlines such as Med-View Airlines (Nigeria) and Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe) were banned “based on safety concerns with regard to the airlines themselves.”
In the case of Angola all carriers (with the exception of TAAG Angola Airlines and Heli Malongo) remain banned, “due to a lack of safety oversight by the aviation authorities of these States,” the EU Commission confirmed. ■