EU Blacklists Air Express Algeria Over Safety Concerns
The European Union has updated its Aviation Safety List, adding the Algerian carrier Air Express Algeria after European experts identified serious safety shortcomings. The airline is now prohibited from operating, overflying, or landing within EU airspace. The revised list totals 165 carriers, down from 169 earlier in the year, and continues to bar all airlines from 21 countries, including Russia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Restrictions also remain on Iran Air and North Korea’s Air Koryo, limiting them to specific aircraft types. Conversely, the EU announced that all airlines certified in Kyrgyzstan have been removed from the blacklist, reflecting improvements in that country's aviation oversight. The EU says the list serves as a preventive tool, encouraging states to strengthen supervision to meet international safety standards.
Entities: Air Express Algeria · European Commission · European Union · Iran Air · Kyrgyzstan
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The EU added Air Express Algeria to its air safety blacklist. (EU)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Air Express Algeria is prohibited from operating to, from, or over EU airspace. (EU)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Kyrgyzstan airlines were removed from the EU blacklist after safety improvements. (EU)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The EU maintains bans on airlines from 21 countries, including Russia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. (EU)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The blacklist ban was imposed due to serious safety concerns identified by European experts. (European experts)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The EU air safety blacklist now contains 165 airlines, down from 169 in February. (EU)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Air Express Algeria was founded in 2002, is based in Hassi Messaoud, serves the oil and gas sector, and operates Beechcraft 1900D, LET L‑410 and Citation aircraft. (company profile)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Iran Air and Air Koryo are subject to operational restrictions limited to certain aircraft types. (EU)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Airlines certified in Kyrgyzstan have been removed from the blacklist after safety improvements. (European Commission)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The EU states the blacklist is a preventive tool that encourages countries to improve aviation safety oversight. (European Commission)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The addition was due to serious safety deficiencies identified by European experts. (European experts)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The European Union added Air Express Algeria to its air safety blacklist. (European Commission)