Three Russian Airlines Suspended
January 28, 2015
The Russian civil aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, has withdrawn the Air Operators Certificate’s (AOC’s) of three Russian-based airlines, including Polet, Russian Sky Airlines and Air Samara. Rosaviatsia suspended the airlines’ AOC’s based on their recent ailing financial performance and a series of current and prospective operational concerns. The financial concerns were largely based on the deteriorating economic environment within Russia and the respective airlines’ ability to maintain profitability in this climate given their current performance.
Additionally, Rosaviatsia also cited that Air Samara had violated a number of regulatory requirements pertaining to the monitoring of flight operations, which further prompted the suspension of the airline’s AOC.
Gambia Bird suspends operations
January 28, 2015
In late December 2014 West African airline Gambia Bird, officially stated that it would be suspending operations indefinitely. The airline had been required to make a series of network cut backs over the past several months as a result of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which included a temporary suspension of operations between the United Kingdom and the Ebola-effected regions. While the airline did not explicitly state the reasons for the suspension of operations, it is considered likely that the Ebola outbreak had had a significant impact on the airline’s operations and profitability and likely, at least to some extent, influenced the airline’s decision to suspend operations.
Commercial flights from Libya to the EU set to recommence
January 28, 2015
Despite the continued civil conflict within Libya, the state-owned co-national carrier, Afriqiyah Airlines, has been attempting to re-establish limited operations after commercial flights had been largely suspended to and from the region due to the escalating civil conflict.
As a result of Libya’s recent inclusion on the EU Banned list of carriers, Afriqiyah Airlines has established an Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement with a European-based operator, which will be responsible for undertaking all prospective flights between Libya and the EU.