Garuda, Air Astana given EU blessing
KUALA LUMPUR -The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has welcomed the decision by the European Union to remove Garuda Indonesia, Airfast Indonesia, Mandala Airlines and Premiair from the list of carriers subject to an operating ban within the EU.
AAPA director general Andrew Herdman said, “The removal of Garuda and three other Indonesian carriers from the EU list is a very welcome development.
“Firstly, it reflects the successful actions taken by the civil aviation authorities in Indonesia to strengthen their safety oversight capability and meet recognised international regulatory standards.
“Secondly, the carriers have demonstrated their ability to meet international norms, supported by ongoing investments in safety management systems and procedures.â€
Garuda has indicated that it may start flights to Amsterdam after studying the route’s profitability,
The European Union banned all Indonesian-registered aircraft from flying over its airspace in June 2007, acting on a report from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which criticised the country’s safety standards.
The EU ban followed a number of air crashes, including an Adam Air jet that plunged into the sea off Sulawesi island on January 1, 2007, killing all 102 on board.
A Garuda jet crashed in Yogyakarta in March the same year, with 21 dead.
Meanwhile, the EU has extended the list of air carriers which are subject to an operating ban within Europe to include all but one Kazakhstan carriers operating under technical regulation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Air Astana is the exception.
In June 2009 Air Astana successfully passed IATA’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).
Air Astana will continue regular services on all European routes in accordance with its current schedules.
Ian Jarrett
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