EU could lift ban on Zambian planes next month: official

The European Union (EU) is expected to lift a ban on Zambian registered planes flying over Europe airspace next month, a senior official said on Wednesday.

In 2009, Zambia was among other 20 states and a total of 294 airlines that were banned from EU skies, citing safety concerns due to alleged poor maintenance and regulatory oversight standards.

The EU International Civil Aviation Authority Organization blacklisted Zambian registered planes from entering the European airspace following an audit conducted under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program, which observed significant safety concerns.

Minister of Communication and Transport Kapembwa Simbao said the EU was expected to lift the ban after an evaluation on the country's aviation sector last year to determine whether to lift the ban or not.

He said the government was optimistic that the ban will be lifted because the government has met most of the requirements, according to the Lusaka Times.

According to him, Zambia has met more than 60 percent of the total requirements.

"We have passed all the tests because the aviation industry's pass mark is 60 percent, but the last time we scored 63 percent and they were surprised that we had scored that high," he is quoted as saying.

The EU officials came to Zambia to take the audit data themselves and they were happy to see the results, he added.

On Monday, EU head of cooperation to Zambia Aad Biesebroek said the European body was impressed with steps taken by authorities in Zambia to meet international safety standards that will allow Zambian registered planes to enter European airspace.

(APD)