Faith Nyasuguta
Tanzania has been dealt a serious setback in its aviation sector after the European Commission officially banned all airlines certified in the country from flying into European Union airspace. The decision, part of the latest update to the EU Air Safety List, stems from what the EU describes as “serious safety deficiencies” in both the airlines and Tanzania’s aviation regulatory system.
This move effectively grounds any Tanzanian-operated airline from conducting flights to or over the EU. The European Commission’s detailed assessment revealed widespread issues, including a shortage of qualified aviation personnel, poor oversight of airline operations and aircraft maintenance, and non-compliance with international safety standards.
“This is not a decision we take lightly,” read the EU’s official statement. “It follows in-depth evaluations by European aviation experts and highlights major shortcomings in national aviation oversight in Tanzania.”
The updated blacklist was determined during the EU Air Safety Committee meeting held in Brussels from May 13 to 15, 2025. The committee, composed of aviation safety specialists from all EU member states and supported by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), reached a unanimous decision to include Tanzania on the ban list.
The implications for Tanzania are wide-ranging. With tourism being one of its economic pillars, and air travel acting as a crucial connector for both domestic and international routes, the ban could tarnish the country’s aviation reputation and hurt its airlines’ business prospects.
A total of 169 airlines are now banned from entering EU airspace. Tanzania joins 16 other countries, including Libya, Nepal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose civil aviation authorities are deemed to provide insufficient safety oversight. Suriname, another country flagged in the update, also had all its airlines banned.
EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas made it clear that safety remains the top priority. “Following a detailed technical assessment, we’ve added all air carriers certified in Suriname and Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List due to serious deficiencies in national aviation oversight. We urge both countries to address these issues promptly.”
The EU also expressed willingness to support Tanzania and Suriname if they commit to aligning with international aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
So far, Tanzanian authorities have not publicly responded. However, for any hope of the ban being lifted, the country will need to prove that it can overhaul its aviation systems, improve regulatory enforcement, and ensure its airlines are fully compliant with global safety expectations.
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