EU finalises banned airline list

The European Union has completed a list of airlines which it intends to "blacklist" that will stop those on the list from flying within the Union.

It is hoped that the measure, once it comes into law, will reduce the danger of flying to and from member states.

The list of blacklisted airlines has been compiled on the basis of their poor record in safety and will be used to stop them carrying passengers to and from the EU until their procedures improve and meet European standards.

Jacques Barrot, transport commissioner at the European Union, commented: "We have just taken a decisive step."

He added: "I am now in a position to ask the commission to quickly adopt the black list and to publish it, so that we can make sure that the companies identified in it will not have the possibility to enter Europe before they have resolved their problems."

The move, which is the first of its kind in Europe, comes following a spate of crashes last summer and is designed to significantly improve the standard of safety procedures among airlines.