The European Union has delivered a fresh blow to African aviation by expanding its Air Safety List, commonly known as the EU flight blacklist, removing dozens of carriers from the right to operate in European airspace.
The 2025 EU Air Safety List (ASL), which aims to protect passengers traveling to, from, or within Europe, has again spotlighted critical regulatory weaknesses in several African states.
In the updated list published in June 2025, a total of 169 airlines are now prohibited from EU skies. This includes 142 airlines certified in 17 countries due to inadequate safety oversight by their national aviation regulators.
A significant portion of those states are African, including Angola (with the exception of two carriers), Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Liberia, Libya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Tanzania.
For some, like Liberia and Sierra Leone, every active airline in the country is barred from European skies.
The blacklist also includes airlines with individually identified safety deficiencies outside the group bans. These include carriers from Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Iran and Iraq that are barred from EU skies due to critical safety concerns.
Additionally, two airlines are not fully banned but face strict operational restrictions, meaning they can only enter EU airspace with specific aircraft types. These are Iran Air from Iran and Air Koryo from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The oversight gap that keeps African airlines grounded
While many African airlines have made strides in fleet renewal and operational performance, the EU’s enforcement places responsibility squarely on national aviation authorities, not just the carriers themselves.
The European Commission’s latest technical assessment cited severe concerns around regulatory supervision, safety management, and adherence to international operating standards.
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas reaffirmed this stance in a statement: “Passenger safety remains our top priority. Following a detailed technical assessment, the European Commission has added all air carriers certified in Suriname and Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List due to serious deficiencies in national aviation oversight.”
“We urge both countries to address these issues promptly. The Commission stands ready to support their efforts toward full compliance with international safety standards.”
The economic implications for Africa are significant. EU bans restrict access to global markets, elevate insurance and leasing costs, and hinder airline partnerships with established global players. For tourism-reliant economies, the blacklist weakens connectivity and deters growth.
Yet aviation experts note a path to redemption. Nations that improve oversight, adopt global best practices and undergo repeated audits have successfully been removed from the blacklist in the past.
That experience offers a roadmap, but also a warning: reforms demand time, financing and political will.
Africa’s rapidly growing air travel market cannot thrive without safer skies. Strengthening aviation regulation and compliance is no longer optional. It is an urgent prerequisite for recognition and trust in global aviation.
