EU bans Ghanaian cargo carriers

EUROPE has banned two Ghanaian cargo carriers from operating within its airspace.

“We cannot afford any compromise in air safety,” said European transport commissioner Siim Kallas.

Meridian Airways has been banned outright following “serious and persistent” concerns over safety. Meridian operates DC-8 freighters in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

“[It] is included in the list of banned airlines as a consequence of a series of very poor results from inspections involving not only its aircraft but also facilities used by the airline in the EU,” said the European Commission in a statement.

The commission also placed restrictions on three AirLift International aircraft, also DC-8 freighters, leaving only one allowed within the EU. The restriction came after a checks revealed a safety level “well below that required by international standards”.