URGENT STATEMENT FROM DAIRO AIR SERVICES/DAS AIR CARGO
ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION BAN LISTING.
Date: 16 October 2006 : 15:00 GMT
Issued By Dairo Air Services, Uganda/ DAS Air Cargo
Dairo Air Services, Uganda wishes to put on record, in the strongest terms, its
objection over the decision by the European Commission to include both Dairo
Air Services and DAS Air Cargo on the most recent list of carriers banned from
operating into and out of the European Union.
Neither Dairo Air Services or DAS Air Cargo received any prior notification that
the European Commission was considering such action, nor has any
justification for this decision been received by the Ugandan Civil Aviation
Authority, the airlines controlling authority. Therefore the company has been
unable to exercise any right of defence, which is embodied within the spirit
and letter of the European Union Directive which established the list.
The Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority and the Airline have always responded
to all communication from European airworthiness authorities when received;
it is after all in the interest of both parties to do so. If any communication
from the European Commission had been received prior to the publication of
the list then we are certain that through dialogue an operating ban would
have been avoided.
The ban entered into effect from Midnight on 14 October 2006 and as a
consequence, all operations to and from Europe have been suspended.
In an effort to protect the business the company is making strenuous efforts
to have the ban lifted, whilst a period of consultation can take place to
resolve any concerns that the European Commission may have.