Even as Thailand looks down the barrel of worldwide aviation sanctions over its air-safety standards, the European Union has lifted its ban on Philippines-based carriers, allowing them to return to EU skies for the first time in five years.
The decision dismantles the final part of an EU flight ban against the Philippines imposed in 2010. The EU eased the prohibition in 2013 by authorising Philippine Airlines Inc to fly in Europe and scaled back the curbs again last year by permitting Cebu Air Inc to operate in the 28-nation bloc.
"After five years of hard work, we are finally able to clear the airlines certified in the Philippines," EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said in a statement on Thursday in Brussels.
The EU put all Philippine carriers on its blacklist in March 2010, citing shortcomings in the Asian country's regulation of the industry.
The blacklist was first drawn up by the European Commission, the EU's regulatory arm, in March 2006 with more than 90 airlines, mainly from Africa. The ban covers passenger and cargo carriers from nations including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Liberia, Sudan and Zambia.
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Airline crashes in 2004 and 2005 that killed hundreds of European travellers prompted EU governments to seek a uniform approach to airline safety through a common blacklist. The list, updated generally twice a year, is based on deficiencies found during checks at European airports, the use of antiquated aircraft by companies and shortcomings by non-EU airline regulators.
In addition to imposing an operational ban in Europe, the blacklist can act as a guide for travellers worldwide and influence safety policies in non-EU countries. Nations that are home to carriers with poor safety records can ground them to avoid being put on the EU list, while countries keen to keep out unsafe foreign airlines can use the European list as a guide for their own bans.
"Red-flagged" earlier this month by the International Civil Aviation Organization after a failed audit of its Department of Civil Aviation, Thailand escaped an EU ban Thursday when the European Commission declined to place the country on its air-safety watch list.
The EC's decision was based on the unanimous opinion of the EU Air Safety Committee, which met between June 9-11.
The ban on the Philippines came after the country was red-flagged by the ICAO and then audited by the US Federal Aviation Administration. That audit saw the country downgraded from the problem-free Category 1 to Category 2. The EU ban followed shortly after.
Red-flagged Thailand will face its crucial FAA audit July 13.
