EU bans all air carriers certified in Tanzania and Suriname from operating in the EU

BRUSSELS, Belgium 

The European Union has dealt a significant blow to Tanzania’s aviation industry by imposing an outright ban on all air carriers certified in the country. 

The decision, announced on June 3, follows a safety audit by EU aviation experts that flagged serious shortcomings in the country’s civil aviation oversight. 

In an official statement, the European Commission confirmed the inclusion of Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List. 

This is a register of airlines barred from operating in European airspace due to failure to meet international safety standards. 

The Commission also banned all airlines from Suriname under the same update. 

The assessment cited multiple issues, including a shortage of qualified aviation personnel, ineffective regulatory oversight in flight operations and aircraft maintenance, and widespread non-compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. 

Impact of the ban the ban means Tanzanian airlines can no longer operate within the EU, dealing a financial and reputational setback to the country’s aviation sector. 

The ban on Tanzanian airlines is expected to impact tourism and business travel significantly, particularly as Tanzania seeks to position itself as a key hub in East Africa.

While no Tanzanian airline currently operates regular direct flights to the EU, the designation still affects code-sharing agreements, cargo routes, and the global image of the country’s aviation sector. 

The European Union’s move came after a meeting of aviation safety experts from EU Member States held in Brussels between May 13 and 15. 

The findings were unanimously endorsed by the EU Air Safety Committee and backed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Parliament’s Transport Committee.