Iran Air Wins Removal of Most Operating Restrictions in Europe

[Arminkh]

Jonathan Stearns
June 16, 2016 — 3:04 AM PDT

• EU allows Iranian flag carrier to use most of its aircraft
• Zambia, Madagascar, Indonesia also gain from blacklist changes

The European Union lifted most of its restrictions on Iran Air as part of the latest changes to the bloc’s list of unsafe carriers.

The EU also removed Air Madagascar, three more Indonesian operators -- Citilink, Lion Air and Batik Air -- and all airlines based in Zambia from the aviation blacklist. The easing of curbs on Iran Air follows a visit to Tehran by European transport chief Violeta Bulc in April and an EU technical assessment in May.

Iran Air will be allowed to use all its aircraft except Boeing Co. 747 and Fokker 100 planes when flying in the 28-nation EU, the European Commission said on Thursday in Brussels. Previously, Iran Air had been permitted to use only 10 Airbus Group SE A300 and two Airbus A310 planes in Europe.


“I am happy to announce that we are now able to allow most aircraft from Iran Air back into European skies,” Bulc, who’s in charge of transport at the commission, the EU’s executive arm, said in a statement. The changes are due to be published in the bloc’sOfficial Journal on Friday.

The European blacklist was first drawn up by the commission in 2006 with more than 90 airlines, mainly from Africa. The ban covers passenger and cargo carriers from nations including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Liberia and Sudan.

Airline crashes in 2004 and 2005 that killed hundreds of European travelers prompted EU governments to seek a uniform approach to airline safety through a common blacklist. The list, updated generally twice a year, is based on deficiencies found during checks at European airports, companies’ use of antiquated aircraft and shortcomings by non-EU airline regulators.

In addition to imposing an operational ban in Europe, the blacklist can act as a guide for travelers worldwide and influence safety policies in non-EU countries. Nations that are home to carriers with poor safety records can ground them to avoid being put on the EU list, while countries intent on keeping out unsafe foreign airlines can use the European list as a guide for their own bans.

 

[Arminkh]

Can someone tell me what changed here that most of Iran Air's airplanes were not safe and all of a sudden became safe again? @MarkusS do you know?

 

[MarkusS]

Can someone tell me what changed here that most of Iran Air's airplanes were not safe and all of a sudden became safe again? @MarkusS do you know?

Iran Air was not completly on a blacklist. Some of its aircraft were allowed to enter europe out of good will. Iran Airs bad reputation did not come from bad skills or bad will but simply because their machines are ancient and because the sanctions they could not under go proper service. No one in Europe wanted an Iran Air 747 SP falling into Paris, London or Rome.

Now that the sanctions are lifted Iran Air is able to get new parts and their old machines can undergo proper service until they get new replacements.

Beside that even more important is that Air Madagascar isnow allowed to enter Europe. I visited Madagascar last december. Its such a beautiful place. The nature there tops evrything and the people are the most kind you will ever meet. But it struggles under unimaginable poverty. This move could help to improve things there.

 

[VEVAK]

Can someone tell me what changed here that most of Iran Air's airplanes were not safe and all of a sudden became safe again? @MarkusS do you know?

What changed is that sanctions were lifted, Iran purchased a bunch of Airbus and very soon Boeing jets
also Iran is now able to purchase parts that meet European standards!

And unsafe doesn't necessarily mean they think your Aircraft is going to fall in the middle of Paris!

Not meeting their environmental regulations
Not meeting their traffic controller safety regulations
Not meeting their ground safety regulations

These are just examples!

I remember when all this started and at first it started with fuel... on the way to Iran with Iran Air we had to make an extra fuel stop in a friendly Eastern European country just to get fuel simply because France wouldn't give the Iran Air Aircraft we were in enough fuel to get home...

So a simple add-on or upgrade that would allow Iranian aircraft to meet those regulations were not being provided due to sanctions