The European Commission has updated its EU Air Safety List, adding Algeria’s Air Express Algeria to the list of airlines banned from operating in the European Union while removing all carriers certified in Kyrgyzstan after two decades of restrictions. The decision marks the 48th update of the bloc’s aviation safety blacklist and comes as the EU Air Safety List celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The latest revision reflects significant progress in Kyrgyzstan’s aviation sector. All airlines certified in the Central Asian country have been removed from the list following reforms aimed at strengthening aviation safety oversight and aligning national standards with international requirements. Kyrgyz carriers had been subject to the EU ban since 2006 due to concerns over regulatory oversight and compliance with international aviation safety standards.
Air Express Algeria added over safety concerns
While Kyrgyzstan celebrated its removal from the blacklist, Air Express Algeria faced the opposite outcome. The Algerian carrier has been added to the EU Air Safety List following assessments by European aviation safety experts that identified serious shortcomings in its compliance with international safety standards. As a result, the airline is no longer permitted to operate flights within the European Union.
Commission updates EU Air Safety List: Air Express Algeria added, air carriers from Kyrgyzstan removed
— European Commission in Cyprus (@EUCYPRUS) June 9, 2026
All the details: https://t.co/rPgxJO4d2M#airsafety pic.twitter.com/HgWH0zoXnb
The European Commission said the decision was based solely on safety considerations and followed evaluations carried out by the EU Air Safety Committee, which met in Brussels between 19 and 21 May 2026. The committee brings together aviation safety experts from EU member states and works with the support of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Parliament’s Transport Committee.
Passenger confidence remains high
The update coincides with the publication of a new Eurobarometer survey showing strong public confidence in the EU Air Safety List. According to the survey, 70% of Europeans consider the list an effective tool for protecting passengers from unsafe airlines, while 75% trust the EU to update it based on safety criteria rather than political or economic considerations.
Awareness of the list has also grown. Half of Europeans say they are familiar with its existence, while 66% report having received air safety-related information. However, only 12% actively consult the list before booking a flight. Despite this relatively low level of direct consultation, the blacklist appears to influence traveller behaviour significantly. Just 8% of respondents said they would proceed with booking a flight with an airline included on the list.
154 airlines remain banned
Following the latest update, 154 airlines remain banned from operating in EU airspace. Of these, 126 airlines are certified in 16 countries where aviation authorities are deemed unable to provide adequate safety oversight. A further 22 Russian airlines and six individual carriers from other countries are banned because of specific safety deficiencies identified by EU experts. These include Air Zimbabwe, Avior Airlines, Iran Aseman Airlines, Fly Baghdad, Iraqi Airways and the newly added Air Express Algeria.
Two airlines remain subject to operational restrictions rather than a complete ban. Iran Air and North Korea’s Air Koryo may continue operating limited services to the EU using only specific aircraft types approved by European regulators.
Introduced in 2006, the EU Air Safety List is designed to inform passengers about airlines that fail to meet international aviation safety standards and to encourage countries and carriers to improve oversight and operational practices. The latest update highlights both sides of that mission: the continued exclusion of airlines that fall short of safety requirements and the possibility of returning to European skies through sustained regulatory reform.
