EU lifts flight ban of 4 RI cargo airlines

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Fri, 04/22/2011

Four Indonesian cargo airlines have been removed from the list of airlines banned from entering the European fly zone, after a meeting of the European Union (EU)’s Air Safety Committee on Apr. 5-7.

The ban removal was outlined in the Official Journal of the European Union as the EU released its latest update of the “List of airlines banned within the EU” on Thursday.

“This update removes the previous ban on the operations of four Indonesian all cargo air carriers – Cardig Air, Republic Express, Asia Link and Air Maleo,” the European Commission says in a press statement published on its website, http://ec.europa.eu.

“This is due to solid enforcement action taken by the Indonesian authorities to ensure that their operations are safe,” it adds.

The commission further explained in the official journal that the removal of the ban came after its video conference with the Indonesian authorities on March 11, during which the latter informed that all air carriers in Indonesia, with the exception of Wing Air, had undergone re-certification.

The Indonesian directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) also informed the commission that only 9% of the aircraft operating in Indonesia had yet to be fitted with the required International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) equipment.

“The DGCA [also informed that it] had issued an exemption permitting operations until the end of 2011 and that aircraft not fitted after this date would be grounded.

“The Air Safety Committee takes note of these developments and encourages the competent authorities of Indonesia to continue their efforts to enhance the oversight of air carriers under their regulatory responsibility,” the journal says.

A total of 10 Indonesian airlines have thus far been removed from the EU flight ban list, including Garuda Indonesia, Airfast Indonesia, Mandala Airlines, Ekspres Transportasi Antarbenua, Indonesia Air Asia and Metro Batavia.