21 Russian Airlines Blacklisted by European Union Due to Serious Security Issues

BRUSSELS, KOMPAS.com – European Union (EU) enter 21 airline certified flight Russia to the blacklist, including national carrier Aeroflot, for “serious safety concerns.”

The move, which would mean barring Russian airlines from entering EU airspace, comes as Russia seeks to beat sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine.

Also read: Summary of 47th Day of Russian Attack on Ukraine: Peace Prospects Gloomy, US-Europe Moves to Send More Weapons, Fighting Believed to be Bloodier

Last month, President Vladimir Putin authorized the seizure of US and European chartered commercial aircraft, allowing them to be re-registered and issued with local airworthiness certificates.

Putin’s move is meant to keep Russia’s domestic services running, while making it harder for the jets to be reclaimed by their original owners.

In doing so, the EU said Russia was deliberately allowing foreign-owned aircraft to continue flying without meeting safety standards.

“Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency allows Russian airlines to operate hundreds of foreign-owned aircraft without a valid airworthiness certificate,” the European Commission said in a statement. CNN on Tuesday (12/4/2022).

Announcing the ban, European Transport Commissioner Adina Vlean said “the Russian airline in question has deliberately done so in violation of the relevant international safety standards.”

The EU’s decision to add airlines to its Air Safety List comes more than a month after the 27-nation bloc banned all Russian aircraft from its airspace, in response to invasion of Ukraine.

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Security vs politics?

Valean said the latest decision was purely a matter flight safety.

“I want to make it clear that this decision is not another sanction against Russia. It was taken solely on technical and security grounds,” he said.

“We do not mix security with politics,” said Valean.

The EU added that “the situation will continue to be closely monitored in the coming weeks and months, and if necessary, further action can be taken.”

The Commission says the following airlines are Russian airlines blacklisted by the European Union:

• Aeroflot
• Aircompany Ikar
• Alrosa Air Company
• Aurora Airlines
• Aviastartu
• Airlines I am angry
• Izhavia
• Nordstar Airlines
• North Wind
• Pobeda Airlines
• Russia Airlines
• Rusjet
• Rusline
• Siberia Airlines
• Skol Airlines
• Smartavia Airlines
• Urali Airlines
• North Flight
• UVT Aero
• Yakutia
• Yamal Airlines

Also read: Pro-Russian separatists claim control over Mariupol city port

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