EU blacklists Russia’s SKOL but lifts ban on Moldovan carriers

Russian carrier SKOL has been blacklisted by the European Commission over safety concerns, but restrictions on all Moldovan operators have been lifted. SKOL became immersed in a dispute with Russian federal regulator Rosaviatsia earlier this year after the authority ordered withdrawal of more than 30 aircraft from its operating certificate over alleged failure to maintain lease payments. The carrier was operating over 50 aircraft, mainly helicopters, but its fleet also included Let L-410s and a Yakovlev Yak-40. It has been blacklisted over “concerns about its ability to comply with international standards”, says the European Commission. SKOL becomes one of seven airlines individually banned from European operations, although another 90 airlines remain barred overall as a result of blanket prohibitions on 15 countries. Several Moldovan airlines had been added to the blacklist in 2019, although flag-carrier Air Moldova – along with Fly One and Aerotranscargo – were excluded.<br/>