EU Air Safety List 2026: Every Airline Banned From Flying to Europe and What Changed

The EU Air Safety List bans 154 airlines from flying in European skies. The safety list names airlines that may not fly into, out of, within or over the European Union because of safety concerns. Its 48th update, published on 9 June 2026, added Air Express Algeria and lifted a 20-year ban on every airline from Kyrgyzstan.

This guide explains how the safety list works, which countries and banned airlines are on it, what changed in 2026, and what it means for you if you are booking flights to, from or within Europe. Facts are checked against the sources listed at the end.

EU Air Safety List at a Glance

Detail	June 2026 position
Latest update	48th update, published 9 June 2026
Total banned airlines	154
Banned by country	126 airlines certified in 16 countries
Banned individually	28 airlines, including 22 from Russia
Countries with all airlines banned	15, plus Angola with two exceptions
Restricted airlines	Iran Air and North Korean airlines (specific aircraft only)
Added in 2026	Air Express Algeria
Removed in 2026	All airlines certified in Kyrgyzstan

What Is the EU Air Safety List?

The EU Air Safety List is a list of airlines that are banned or restricted from operating in the European Union. It was introduced in 2006 under European law, and it covers flights to, from, within and over EU territory. People often call it the EU airline blacklist, and it is the main public record of airlines banned in Europe.

The list is updated by the European Commission. It relies on the Air Safety Committee, made up of aviation safety experts from every EU member state, with support from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The committee usually meets two or three times a year, but there is no fixed schedule, and an update can happen whenever the Commission decides one is needed or a member state asks for one.

The Commission describes the list as a preventive tool. Being on it is a strong incentive for airlines and countries to improve, and many have done so and been removed over the years.

A Short History of the EU Airline Blacklist

The EU airline blacklist was created after a series of fatal accidents involving foreign airlines in 2004 and 2005, which led European governments to agree common rules on which airlines could fly to Europe. Before that, each country kept its own list, so an airline banned in one country could still fly to another.

The first common safety list was published in 2006. Since then it has been updated dozens of times, reaching its 48th update in June 2026. Some countries have been on the list for most of that time, while others have been added and later removed after improving their oversight. The removal of Kyrgyzstan in 2026 shows that even a ban lasting 20 years can be lifted.

How Airlines End Up on the List

There are two main routes onto the list:

• Individual airline problems: an airline is listed when inspections or audits show serious safety deficiencies, or it fails to meet international safety standards.
• Weak national oversight: when a country’s aviation authority cannot properly oversee its airlines, every airline certified in that country is banned, whatever its own record.

Evidence comes from several places, including ramp inspections of foreign aircraft at European airports, audits by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), information from the airline’s home authority and safety assessments by EASA. Airlines and authorities are given a chance to respond before any decision is made.

Separately, any airline from outside Europe that wants to fly to the EU needs a third-country operator authorisation from EASA. An airline that fails that assessment cannot fly to Europe even if it is not on the list.

Countries Whose Airlines Are All Banned

Every airline certified in these 15 countries is banned, usually because the national aviation authority is judged unable to oversee safety properly:

Region	Countries
Asia and the Caucasus	Afghanistan, Armenia, Nepal
Central Africa	Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe
East Africa and Horn of Africa	Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania
West Africa	Liberia, Sierra Leone
North Africa	Libya
South America	Suriname

All airlines from Angola are also banned, except TAAG Angola Airlines and Heli Malongo. Together, these 16 countries account for 126 of the 154 banned airlines.

Nepal is a well-known example. All Nepali airlines, including Nepal Airlines, have been on the list since 2013, so travellers to Kathmandu from Europe fly with airlines from other countries, usually connecting through the Gulf, Turkey or India.

Individually Banned Airlines

A further 28 airlines are banned on their own, because of their individual safety records rather than their country’s oversight:

Airline	Country
22 Russian airlines	Russia
Iraqi Airways	Iraq
Fly Baghdad	Iraq
Air Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe
Avior Airlines	Venezuela
Iran Aseman Airlines	Iran
Air Express Algeria	Algeria (added June 2026)

The Russian airlines were added after concerns about aircraft being moved onto the Russian register without valid airworthiness certificates. This safety ban is separate from the closure of EU airspace to Russian aircraft, which is a sanctions measure.

Airlines Banned in Europe by Region

Most airlines banned in Europe come from Africa, where several countries have struggled to fund and staff aviation authorities that meet international standards. Being on the list does not mean every airline in those countries is unsafe, but it does mean the EU cannot rely on local oversight.

Africa

Africa has the largest number of countries on the safety list, from Libya and Sudan in the north to Tanzania, the Congo and Angola further south. Holidaymakers heading to places such as Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro in Tanzania fly with non-listed airlines from Europe, the Gulf or East Africa, then use local airlines such as Precision Air for domestic hops if needed.

Asia and the Middle East

Afghanistan, Armenia and Nepal are the countries in Asia and the Caucasus with country-wide bans, while Iraq and Iran have individual airlines on the list. Travellers to these countries from Europe usually connect through Istanbul, Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Russia

With 22 airlines, Russia has the most individually listed airlines of any country. Even if EU airspace reopened to Russian aircraft, these airlines would still be banned until the safety concerns about their aircraft were resolved.

South America

Suriname is the only South American country with a country-wide ban, and Avior Airlines of Venezuela is listed individually. Flights between Europe and these countries are operated by non-listed airlines.

Restricted Airlines

Some airlines are not fully banned but may only fly to Europe with specific aircraft or under strict conditions. In June 2026, these were Iran Air and airlines from North Korea. In practice, this means only certain aircraft types or registrations named in the list can be used for flights to the EU.

What Changed on the Safety List in June 2026

Air Express Algeria Added

Air Express Algeria was the only airline added in the 48th update. The Commission cited serious safety concerns and shortcomings in the airline’s compliance with international safety standards after it failed safety assessments.

Kyrgyzstan Removed

Every airline certified in Kyrgyzstan was removed from the list, ending a ban that had been in place since the list began in 2006. The Commission pointed to the country’s progress in strengthening aviation safety oversight. As part of that effort, Kyrgyzstan’s civil aviation authority suspended the operating certificates of five local airlines, leaving seven active, according to ch-aviation.

Removal does not mean Kyrgyz airlines will start flying to Europe straight away. They still need a third-country operator authorisation from EASA and permission from each country they want to serve.

Can Banned Airlines Ever Fly to Europe?

Yes, in limited ways. A banned airline can serve the EU by leasing an aircraft with crew from an airline that is not on the list, as long as safety standards are met. This is called a wet lease. In that case, the flight is operated by the non-listed airline, which is responsible for safety.

Airlines and countries can also be removed from the list once they fix the problems that led to the ban. Removals usually follow inspections, audits and evidence of lasting improvements, which can take years.

What the Safety List Means for Travellers

If you are flying to or from Europe, you are very unlikely to end up on one of the airlines banned in Europe, because those airlines cannot sell flights to the EU on their own aircraft. The list matters most in three situations:

• Travelling from a listed country: you will usually connect through a hub such as Doha, Dubai, Istanbul or Delhi on an airline that is allowed to fly to Europe.
• Flying within a listed country: the list does not stop you booking domestic flights, but it is a useful signal when choosing between airlines.
• Booking a multi-airline trip: check which airline actually operates each flight, not just the one that sells the ticket.

European law also gives you the right to know which airline will operate your flight. If the operating airline changes after you book, you must be told as soon as possible, and if it changes to an airline on the list, you are entitled to a refund or rerouting.

Is It Safe to Fly a Banned Airline at Home?

The list is designed to protect EU airspace, not to rate every domestic flight in the world. Millions of people fly safely each year on airlines banned in Europe, and some of those airlines have good recent records. Even so, the list is a useful signal that safety oversight in a country or at an airline has not met international standards.

If you need to fly domestically in a listed country, consider these points:

• Choose established airlines: larger airlines with modern fleets and international partners are often a better choice than very small operators.
• Check recent news: look for any recent accidents, groundings or safety warnings before you book.
• Consider alternatives: on some routes, road travel or a flight on an international airline may be a sensible option.
• Ask your travel insurer: some policies have conditions about airlines on safety lists, so check your cover.

What Happens When an Airline Is Added

Adding an airline to the list is not a snap decision. The Commission first gathers evidence and contacts the airline and its national authority, which can present their case to the Air Safety Committee. The committee then gives its opinion, and the Commission adopts the update, which takes effect when it is published.

Once an airline is listed, it must stop flying to, from and over the EU on its own aircraft. Any tickets it has sold for those flights need to be refunded or moved to other airlines. Airlines on the list can apply to be removed at any time, but they must show that the problems have been fixed and that the improvements will last.

What to Do If Your Booking Involves a Listed Airline

It is rare, but it can happen, especially on complex trips that combine several airlines or include domestic flights in a listed country. If you find that one of your flights is operated by an airline on the safety list:

1. Contact whoever sold you the ticket: the airline or travel agent should explain your options.
2. Ask about alternatives: another airline may fly the same route at a similar time.
3. Know your refund rights: if the operating airline changes to a listed airline after you book a flight to or from the EU, you are entitled to a refund or rerouting.
4. Check your insurance: some travel insurance policies have conditions about airlines on safety lists.
5. Keep records: save your booking and any messages in case you need to claim a refund.

How Travellers Feel About Banned Airlines

European travellers take the list seriously. In a Eurobarometer survey, 81% of respondents said they would take action if an airline they planned to use was on the list, and 36% said they would avoid booking with it altogether. Awareness is highest in Cyprus, Malta and Luxembourg.

Other Air Safety Lists Around the World

The EU is not the only authority that publishes this kind of information. Since Brexit, the UK has kept its own air safety list, which is similar to the EU version but can differ. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration runs its International Aviation Safety Assessment programme, which rates whether each country’s aviation authority meets international standards rather than listing individual airlines.

If you are flying from the UK, check the UK list as well as the EU one. If you are flying to the United States, an airline from a country rated below standard by the FAA cannot add new US routes.

How to Check If an Airline Is Banned

1. Find the operating airline on your booking, not just the airline that sold the ticket.
2. Open the European Commission’s current EU Air Safety List, which shows every banned and restricted airline.
3. Search by country first, because a country-wide ban on the safety list covers every airline certified there.
4. Then search by airline name for individually banned airlines.
5. Check the date of the latest update, because the list can change two or three times a year.

Our airline guides also note when an airline is on the EU list.

7 Essential Tips for Avoiding Banned Airlines

1. Check the operating airline: codeshares can hide which airline actually flies the plane.
2. Look up the country: a country-wide ban on the safety list covers every airline certified there.
3. Use the latest version: the safety list changes, so do not rely on an old copy.
4. Connect through major hubs: if you are travelling from a listed country, fly via a hub served by non-listed airlines.
5. Read the small print: package holidays and multi-airline tickets may include smaller local airlines.
6. Know your rights: you can ask for a refund or rerouting if your flight switches to a banned airline.
7. Check the UK list too: if you are flying from the UK, its safety list can differ from the EU one.

You can compare airlines and fares on the FlightSelects flight search.

EU Safety List FAQs

Facts checked in October 2026 against Euronews on the June 2026 update, ch-aviation on the Kyrgyz and Algerian changes and the European Commission announcement. The list can change, so check the latest version before you book.