African Airlines Banned from EU
March 22nd, 2006 Posted in General, Long-term travel, Travel industryI often say that foreign airlines offer a better experience than the big domestic names you’re used to, but all bets are off when you’re talking about a Soviet plane from a third-world country airline, especially one based in Africa.
Calling them “flying coffins,” the EU transport commissioner has barred airlines who don’t meet the EU’s safety standards from landing in the EU zone. Most of them were from African nations such as Congo, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Swaziland and Liberia. Airlines from Afghanistan, Libya, and North Korea are also not up to snuff (gee what a surprise).
The good news is, most travelers aren’t flying any of these risky airlines anyway. The only ones most round-the-world flyers should make a note to avoid are small Phuket Airlines and Air Bangladesh. (Not to be confused with their not-so-bad larger carrier, Biman Bangladesh). Air Mauritania was given more time to enact some reforms–keep an eye on the situation if you’re heading there.
Here’s a link to the story: EU bans ‘flying coffin’ airlines
