http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4832648.stm
EU issues 'unsafe' airlines ban
The European Union has issued a blacklist banning 92 airlines from operating in the region.
Most of the companies, which the EU says fail to meet international standards, are based in Africa.
The list is available online and will be updated at least every three months. Passengers will have to be informed if they are to fly on a named carrier.
The move was proposed last year after a summer in which more than 500 people died in plane crashes worldwide.
The list of 92 firms which face a complete ban and three facing operational restrictions was compiled from recommendations from the 25 members of the EU.
It includes 50 carriers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 14 from Sierra Leone and seven airlines from Swaziland.
Standards
From now, companies banned in one member state will be banned in the whole EU. Airlines can apply to be taken off the list.
"The European Union now has a coherent approach to banning airlines," said Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the Commission for transport.
"This blacklist will keep dubious airlines out of Europe. It will also make sure that all airlines operating in Europe's sky meet the highest safety standards."
Mr Barrot said that although many of the carriers on the list did not currently fly to Europe, the list would "pre-empt" problems in the future.
He said it was difficult to say how many of the airlines had flown in Europe or used European airports.
The EU says bans and operating restrictions are based on evidence of airlines violating certain criteria, such as the use of poorly-maintained, antiquated or obsolete aircraft.
It says the blacklist will have encourage airlines operating in Europe to comply fully with safety standards and will dissuade unscrupulous airlines from starting up services in Europe.