IATA approved (Illustration)
Photo: Hagai Aharon
EU to maintain Israeli airlines safety ranking
Civil Aviation Authority says European Union foreign airlines safety division satisfied with Israel's efforts to maintain, improve aviation safety; will not downgrade ranking
The Transportation Ministry's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced Sunday that the European Union Commission will not be downgrading Israel's airlines safety rankings.
The announcement followed a February memorandum by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), informing Israeli airlines that they must upgrade their safety and security measure, or risk being turned away from European Union airports.
Safety First
Roi Mandel
International Air Transport Association warns it may follow US Federal Aviation Administration, downgrade Israel’s aviation safety ranking. Should decision materialize, EU airport may refuse Israeli planes' landing
IATA is an international trade body, which represents some 230 airlines comprising 93% of the world's scheduled international air traffic.
According to Transportation Ministry officials, who met with head of the EU's foreign airlines safety division, the European Union will not be making any changes to El Al, Arkia and Israir's safety rankings.
The European Union, added a ministry source, is content with Israel's efforts to improve aviation safety. Israel is now trying to restore its Category-1 safety status in the US, after the US Federal Aviation Administration downgraded its aviation safety ranking in late November.
Meanwhile, Israel's Israir Airlines recently topped the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and was awarded the organization's highest safety ranking.
Israir has thus joined 350 international airlines, including Israel's own El Al, which have been awarded the prestigious safety ranking.
"We are pleased to be officially inducted into the list of airlines which qualify for the IOSA safety ranking," Amir Porat, Israir's deputy director of operations, told Ynet. "Israir always strives to improve its airline safety and service."
