Photo: Amy McTigue, Flickr
The European Union boasts some of the most rigorous aviation safety standards in the world, banning a whopping 228 airlines from landing in EU countries or even passing through their airspace, according to Consultancy.UK. Here’s a look at the countries home to some of the worst offenders:
Photo: Consultancy.UK
The 228 banned airlines come from 21 countries. More than a quarter, 59 in total, hail from crash-plagued Indonesia, and 116 are based in Africa, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (21), Sudan (18), Mozambique (17), and Angola (13) unfortunately each home to an inordinately high number of companies told to stay away. A single airline in Suriname is the only South American carrier to make the blacklist, with the rest of the motley crew hailing from Asia.
Interestingly enough, Consultancy.UK points out that exceptions are sometimes made to allow the banned carriers to operate flights into EU airspace for jet maintenance, but only without passengers, and under the operation of a flight crew from an entirely other, non-banned airline. Ouch!
If you’re flying into one of the countries listed above with a questionable reputation for safety in the sky, perhaps flying an airline you’ve never even heard of, consider looking into your airline’s safety record. You may uncover some peace of mind, or a reason to rebook on a different carrier.