AAPA welcomes EU decision to lift operating ban on Indonesian carriers.

Wednesday 15th July, 2009

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has welcomed the decision by the European Union to remove Garuda Indonesia, Airfast Indonesia, Mandala Airlines and Premiair from the list of carriers subject to an operating ban within the EU.

Commenting on the announcement, AAPA Director General Mr. Andrew Herdman said, “Safety is always the industry’s #1 priority, but requires constant vigilance. The removal of Garuda and three other Indonesian carriers from the EU list is a very welcome development. Firstly, it reflects the successful actions taken by the civil aviation authorities in Indonesia to strengthen their safety oversight capability and meet recognized international regulatory standards. Secondly, the carriers have demonstrated
their ability to meet international norms, supported by ongoing investments in safety management systems and procedures.”

Mr. Herdman added, “AAPA is fully committed to maintaining international standards as laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), working in conjunction with national regulatory authorities and other stakeholders. Strong and effective regulatory oversight is the key to maintaining and enhancing the aviation industry’s enviable safety record.”

AAPA member airlines as a group have maintained excellent safety performance levels, fully comparable to their counterparts in Europe and North America.

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA)
The AAPA is the trade association of major scheduled international airlines based in the Asia- Pacific region. The AAPA permanent secretariat is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with international representation in Brussels and Washington, D.C. Collectively, the 17 AAPA member airlines carry 290 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo representing approximately one-fifth of global passenger traffic and one-third of global air cargo traffic respectively, and thus play a critically important role in the ongoing development of global aviation.