Belgium and France have barred a number of international airlines from landing at their airports on safety grounds, officials said.
The Belgian Transport Ministry said on its website today that nine airlines had been blacklisted, most of them from Africa.
It suspended landing permits for Africa Lines (Central African Republic), Air Memphis (Egypt), Air Van Airlines (Armenia), Central Air Express (Democratic Republic of Congo), ICTTPW (Libya), International Air Tours Ltd. (Nigeria), Johnsons Air Ltd. (Ghana), Silverback Cargo Freighters (Rwanda) and South Airlines (Ukraine).
France released a list on Sunday blacklisting five companies.
International airline safety has become a more sensitive issue than usual following four fatal crashes in August in which more than 330 people died.
The European Commission said today a list of airlines banned from flying in the whole European Union due to safety concerns could be available within six months.
French nationals made up most of the 160 people killed on August 16th when a jet from Colombia's West Caribbean airline crashed in Venezuela after apparently suffering engine failure.