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Thai carriers have been spared a ban from European skies despite concerns over flight safety.
Last month the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates US air safety, downgraded all Thai airlines to “category 2”, preventing them from establishing new routes.
According to the Telegraph, the EU’s air safety regulator, while announcing an update to its list of banned airlines, declined to impose its own restrictions, saying instead that it would continue to closely monitor aviation standards in the country.
The European Commission said in a statement: “No carriers from Thailand were added to the Air Safety List at this time.
“The Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are willing to continue to work with the Thai authorities to enhance aviation safety in the country.”
But Iraqi Airways, which previously offered flights from Gatwick and Manchester, as well as airports in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal, has been added to the list. “Unaddressed safety concerns” are cited behind the inclusion.