Schwarze Liste

Overview

The EU Air Safety List (ASL) is a list of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union, due to not meeting international aviation safety standards. The airlines that are included on the ASL are banned from operating to, from or over the EU territory.

Airlines that do not operate flights to the EU can also be put on the ASL, in order to warn the public about safety concerns, even if travelling outside of the EU. If an aviation safety authority of a non-EU country is proven to not be able to fulfil their international safety oversight obligations, all airlines of that country can be put on the ASL.

The EU Air Safety List has evolved into a strong, internationally recognised tool that helps improving the safety of aviation, both for flights to the EU but also outside. It is a strong preventive tool, because when under scrutiny, countries tend to improve their safety oversight to avoid seeing their air carriers on the list.

The EU Air Safety Committee, comprising aviation safety experts from all Member States and supported by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), assists the European Commission in updating the List. 

Information notice

The EU Air Safety List identifies airlines that the European Commission, under Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005, and based on advice from the EU Air Safety Committee, has subjected to a full or partial operating ban within the European Union, for failing to meet international safety standards.

The list may be updated whenever the Commission considers it necessary, or at the request of an EU Member State. The EU Air Safety Committee normally meets two to three times a year to review possible updates, with special procedures in place for emergencies.

Every effort is made to verify the exact identity of listed airlines, including, where available, their ICAO codes, state of certification, and air operator certificate or operating licence numbers. 

When all airlines certified by a particular country are banned, the Commission may not know the details of every individual airline concerned. Even if such airlines are not named on the list, they are still prohibited from operating in the EU under the country-wide ban.

Airlines subjected to an operating ban under the ASL could be allowed to operate in the European Union by using wet-leased aircraft of an airline which is not subject to a ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are met. The aircraft being used in such operations could be branded as if it belonged to the fleet of the banned airline.

The ASL consists of two annexes: The first list (annex A) includes all airlines banned from operating in the EU. The second list (annex B) includes airlines that are restricted from operating under certain conditions in the EU. Users should always consult the most recent version before relying on this information.

The only authentic version of the EU air safety list is the version which is annexed to the latest applicable Commission Implementing Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 474/2006 as regards the list of air carriers which are banned from operating or are subject to operational restrictions within the Union, as published in the Official Journal of the European Union.