EU warns German, Spanish airlines over safety

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union warned three German and Spanish carriers that they faced being grounded unless they address safety issues as it updated its blackist of airlines banned from skies over Europe.

The German airlines Bin Air and ACH Hamburg, as well as Spain's Flightline, were told to fix their safety issues or face the shame of being placed on the 27-nation EU's no-flight blacklist which now includes 269 airlines worldwide.

Other airlines identified as having safety issues included Air Madagascar which was barred from using two of its Boeing 767 aircraft that fly to Paris and Marseille due to safety concerns, the European Commission said.

All Mozambican carriers were also blacklisted.

The EU executive removed from the list four Indonesia cargo firms -- Cardig Air, Republic Express, Asia Link and Air Maleo -- as well as the Ukrainian airline UMAir after solid efforts to ensure they are safe.

The updated blacklist 269 airlines whose operations are banned in the EU.

The countries involved are: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon (with the exception of three carriers which operate under restrictions), Indonesia (with the exception of six carriers), Kazakhstan (with the exception of one carrier which operates under restrictions), Kyrgyzistan, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia.