Six Kazakh operators along with Thailand's One-Two-Go and Ukrainian carrier Motor-Sich Airlines are among those being formally banned from European Union operations, following an update to the EU's 'blacklist'.
The update also extends a blanket ban to another African country, Benin, bringing the number of totally-excluded states to nine.
In a statement the European Commission identifies the six prohibited Kazakh operators as Berkut Air, Starline KZ, Sayat Air, Air Company Kokshetau, East Wing and ATMA.
These carriers primarily operate a range of Soviet-era aircraft including Ilyushin Il-62s, Il-76s and Tupolev Tu-154s.
But it has also added to the list Thai operator One-Two-Go - subjected to a grounding order and close scrutiny following a fatal Boeing MD-82 crash in 2007 - and Ukraine's Motor-Sich Airlines, the carrier affiliated with the engine manufacturer of the same name.
Motor-Sich Airlines' fleet has several Soviet-built types but also includes the Antonov An-140, making it one of the few carriers to operate the relatively modern turboprop.
Several other Ukrainian airlines already appear on the blacklist, which was last updated in November 2008.
"We will continue to actively pursue a dialogue with everyone involved in aviation to ensure that all aircraft and air carriers conform to internationally required levels of air safety," says European transport commissioner Antonio Tajani.
Benin is the latest state to receive a blanket ban on all airlines. The Commission says this follows the "negative results" of an ICAO audit.
While Angola and Indonesia have made good progress to improve safety, the states are yet to be dropped from the blacklist. The other six countries with a blanket ban comprise Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gabon is also virtually excluded by the blacklist because only a small number of aircraft belonging to two carriers meet European approval.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
