Iran Air off safety blacklist, can fly in EU

The European Commission announced on Thursday that the Iranian flag carrier Iran Air has been taken off a safety blacklist and has thus been cleared to fly in the European Union.

EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc has been quoted by AFP as saying in an announcement as saying that the decision follows a visit to Iran and a technical assessment of the country’s aviation safety standards.

"Following my visit to Iran in April, a technical assessment was successfully carried out in May," EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said in her statement.

"Based on this I am happy to announce that we are now able to allow most aircraft from Iran Air back into European skies," Bulc added.

Previously, only the carrier's EU-manufactured Airbus planes could operate in the bloc, AFP added.

SS