European Union Bans More Airlines

The European Union has banned three more airlines from operating in the 25 nation bloc and put restrictions on a fourth, updating its blacklist of carriers to try to boost safety in European skies.

The executive European Commission said on Tuesday Suriname-based Blue Wing and Kyrgyzstan´s Sky Gate International would be banned from operating in the EU.

The Commission also added Star Jet of Kyrgyzstan to the list of banned carriers because it was the same company as Star Air of Sierra Leone, which had already been banned within the bloc.

Sudan´s Air West would face operating restrictions on one of its planes. Buraq Air of Libya, which previously faced curbs on its cargo activities, has been withdrawn from the list because it no longer performs those services.

The airline bans were based on criteria such as old or poorly maintained aircraft, failure to solve problems identified in inspections, and bad oversight by regulatory authorities.

In March, the EU banned a slew of mostly African carriers from European skies to reassure travelers after a spate of fatal airline accidents involving European passengers.