New EU blacklist bans Surinam's Blue Wing, severely limits Iran Air

The European Commission released the 14th update of its list of airlines banned from the EU, adding Blue Wing Airlines from Surinam and severely restricting Iran Air's access to EU airspace. Blue Wing was banned "as a consequence of a series of accidents suffered by this airline and serious deficiencies revealed during ramp inspections of its aircraft," the EC said. It also removed two Indonesian carriers from the list. The limitations on Iran Air will restrict it from operating A320s, 727s and 747s, comprising around two-thirds of its fleet, in EU airspace. The EC insisted the ban is based on safety reasons and not related to UN and US sanctions against Iran related to the country's nuclear program. The Indonesian carriers, Metro Batavia and Indonesia Air Asia, have been removed based on "improvements in the oversight exercised by the competent authorities," the EC said.