Philippine
planes are to be allowed back into Europe, the European Union announced on
Thursday. The EU transport commissioner said that Philippine airlines will be
removed from its safety blacklist.
Deutsche Welle, 25 June 2015
"After
5 years of hard work we are finally able to clear the airlines certified in the
Philippines from the European Air Safety List," EU transport commissioner
Violeta Bulc said in a statement.
"The
Philippines is an important country with a sizeable and rapidly growing
aviation sector," she added. "Today's result can serve as an example
for other countries which have difficulty to match their safety oversight
capabilities with the growth of their industry."
Philippine
airlines were blacklisted by the EU in 2010 after the United Nations and US
aviation authorities found "serious safety deficiencies."
The EU had
already lifted the safety ban on flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) in July
2013, and last year also released Cebu Pacific, the country's largest airline.
"This
is truly breaking news since it is the first time that the entire aviation
sector of one country is removed from the European Air Safety List," said
Lubomir Frebort, the EU charge d'affaires in the Philippines.
While the
seven carriers mostly serve routes inside Asia, Eric Apolonio, a spokesman for
the Philippine civil aviation authority said the EU decision would still
benefit them, since it would give them the option of flying to Europe.
Previously,
European insurance companies would not cover people who flew on airlines on the
EU Air Safety List.
"European
tourists will be encouraged to use low-cost carriers in the Philippines
now," boosting the number of visitors who will want to fly around the
archipelago, Apolonio told news agency AFP.
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