Air Zimbabwe barred from EU airspace

Air Zimbabwe has been banned from flying in EU airspace because it does not meet international safety standards. TimesLIVE reports that the national carrier is listed on the EU Commission air safety list of airlines banned or restricted from operating in the EU. More than 100 airlines have been listed, among them 21 Russian-certified airlines for ‘not meeting international safety standards’. ‘Two additional airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Iran Air (Iran) and Air Koryo (North Korea),’ read the EU communique. State-owned Air Zimbabwe is saddled with huge debts, owing foreign and domestic creditors more than US$300m. In 2019, it was suspended by Acsa for the non-payment of airport charges.