The European Commission has added Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad to the list of airlines banned from operating within the EU, based on the recommendations of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). According to the authorities' assessment visit to Nepal in September, in the same announcement, the European Commission stated that the ban on certified airlines in Nepal remains in effect in view of ongoing safety concerns. It revealed that. Fly Baghdad is one of 129 airlines banned from the airspace of EU countries. Specifically, 101 certified airlines in 15 countries around the world have been banned from operating due to insufficient safety oversight by the aviation authorities of those countries. Some other 22 airlines certified in Russia are also banned while six airlines are also not allowed to fly EU skies, namely:

• Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
• Avior Airlines (Venezuela)
• Blue Wings Airlines (Suriname)
• Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran)
• Fly Baghdad (Iraq) and
• Iraqi Airways (Iraq)

Two other companies are subject to operating restrictions and can only fly to the EU using specific aircraft types: Iran Air (Iran) and Air Koryo (North Korea). Yesterday’s update to the EU Air Safety List is based on the unanimous opinion of Member State aviation safety experts, who met in Brussels on November 14 to 16, 2023, gathering the EU Air Safety Committee. This Committee is chaired by the European Commission with support from EASA. The European Parliament’s Transport Committee also supports the update. Decisions under the EU Air Safety List are based on international safety standards, notably the standards decreed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Fly Baghdad, which is based in the Iraqi capital, has not operated flights to the EU in the last few months, except for some flights to Turkiye, which is a nearby country of the EU. According to Ch-aviation data, Fly Baghdad operates 11 aircraft: one Boeing 737-700, five 737-800, three 737-900ER, one Mitsubishi CRJ200ER, and one CRJ900ER. Iraq’s other airline, Iraqi Airways, is also included in the ASL. While the EC banned Fly Baghdad, it has recognised the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal’s (CAAN) engagement and efforts to improve its safety oversight capacity, which was noted during the safety meeting.