The European Commission has published the 48th update of the EU Air Safety List, the aviation safety mechanism that has been warning passengers since 2006 about

airlines banned or restricted from operating in EU airspace due to failure to meet international safety standards. 

In a notable development marking the List’s 20th anniversary, all air carriers certified in Kyrgyzstan have been removed, following what EU officials describe as sustained improvements in the country’s aviation safety oversight over the past two decades. The decision reflects progress made in aligning national regulatory practices with international standards overseen by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

At the same time, the Commission has added Air Express Algeria to the list of banned carriers, meaning the airline is no longer permitted to operate to, from, or within the European Union. The decision follows safety assessments carried out by EU aviation experts, which identified serious deficiencies in compliance with international aviation safety requirements.

The update underscores the EU’s continued use of the Air Safety List as a preventive instrument designed to enhance global aviation safety. The List is developed in coordination with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), EU Member States, and international partners, and is based on the unanimous opinion of the EU Air Safety Committee.

This year’s update also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the initiative, which the Commission says highlights the importance of sustained international cooperation to ensure safe skies worldwide.

Alongside regulatory changes, the Commission also published findings from a new Eurobarometer survey showing strong public confidence in the List. According to the results, seven in ten Europeans view it as an effective tool for protecting passengers from unsafe airlines, while 75% trust the EU to apply safety criteria without political or economic influence.

Awareness of the List is relatively high, with half of Europeans saying they are familiar with it, though only a small proportion report checking it directly before flying. Despite this, its behavioural impact is significant: just 8% of respondents say they would still consider booking a flight with an airline that appears on the List.

Following the latest update, a total of 154 airlines are now subject to bans or restrictions within EU airspace. These include carriers certified in multiple countries with identified deficiencies in safety oversight, as well as specific airlines flagged for serious operational safety concerns. Photo by Lucash, Wikimedia commons.