EU adds 2 Ghanaian cargo carriers to airline blacklist

EU blacklists 2 Ghanaian cargo airlines

BRUSSELS — The European Union says it has added two Ghanaian-registered cargo companies to its list of airlines whose aircraft are barred from flying to Europe.

One is Meridian Airways, which operates five Douglas DC-8s from Belgium’s Ostende-Brugge Airport. The EU statement Thursday says Meridian was listed “as a consequence of a series of very poor results from inspections.”

Another freight operator, Airlift International, will be allowed to use only one of its fleet of five DC-8 aircraft on flights to Europe.

The EU’s list includes 278 banned airlines from 17 countries — mostly small carriers from Africa and Asia. The list was established in 2006 and is updated regularly.