HC Deb 08 January 2004 vol 416 c429W
Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which airlines were banned from using British airspace between January 2000 and December 2003; between which dates in each case; and for what reasons; [146490]

(2) which airlines are banned from using British air space; and for what reasons. [146491]

Airline Dates of permit restriction Reason for restriction
Aircraft operated by airlines from On-going Inadequate safety regulation.
Equatorial Guinea
Aircraft operated by airlines from Gambia On-going Inadequate safety regulation.
Aircraft operated by airlines from Liberia On-going Inadequate safety regulation.
Aircraft operated by airlines from Tajikistan On-going Inadequate safety regulation.
Star Air Ltd. (Sierra Leone) From October 2003 Adverse ramp inspection findings and concerns about inadequate safety regulation
RAF-AVIA (Latvia) 28 March to 26 July 2003 The airline was using a leased Ukraine registered aircraft but the lease agreement did not properly deal with the issue of operational control or regulatory oversight.
Enimex (Estonia) 25 February to 30 April 2003 The Estonian authorities had identified serious deficiencies with certain aspects of the airline operation but had permitted the airline to continue operating under a temporary Air Operator Certificate (AOC) while those deficiencies were addressed. Permits were refused until the full AOC was restored
Air Bosna (Bosnia) April 2003 The Bosnian authorities had only issued a temporary AOC as the airline had an number of issues to rectify. Permits were refused until a full AOC was issued.
Inter Trans Air (Bulgaria) August 2000 Adverse ramp inspection finding on an Antonov 12. Permits refused until corrective action taken.
Air Memphis (Egypt) April 1999 to May 2002 Adverse ramp inspection findings. There was no response from the Egyptian authorities to the finding, and no further permit applications, until May 2002.
Cameroon Airlines From January 2001 Non payment of Carriers Liability Act fines for transporting inadequately documented passengers.
Albanian Airlines From January 2001 Concerns over security and immigration controls at Tirana.
Central Air Express (Democratic Republic of the Congo) From February 2003 Inadequate safety regulation.
Air Universal (Sierra Leone) From September 2003 Adverse ramp inspection findings and lack of response from Sierra Leone authorities.
Kyrgyzstan Airlines Summer 2003 Non payment of Carriers Liability Act fines for transporting inadequately documented passengers.

In addition, we require permit applicants, where appropriate, to confirm that aircraft 2003 are equipped with certain equipment such as ground proximity warning systems and the airborne collision avoidance systems. Permit applications have been turned down in the absence of such confirmation.

All applications for a permit are considerd on their merits. The fact that an airline is not listed in the table does not mean that it would necessarily qualify for a permit.