EU could lift Bulgarian air safety restrictions in 2008: official
SOFIA, Dec 7, 2007 (AFP) - European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said Friday that EU restrictions on Bulgarian airlines could be lifted in 2008.
Bulgaria joined the European Union in January 2007 but is subject to air traffic restrictions because of safety and staff problems with its Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
"Bulgaria has made progress by grounding certain outdated aircraft and by demonstrating its willingness to improve the capacity of its civil aviation authority and the quality of its pilots," Barrot told journalists in Sofia.
Barrot said he would make a decision on the safeguard measures based on a report by European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) inspectors to be published shortly.
"I hope we can decide in the first half of 2008, if the report is positive, to grant Bulgarian airlines equal access to EU airspace as every other company," Barrot added.
EU member states currently do not automatically recognise Bulgarian air safety and maintenance certificates and its carriers do not have full access to all European routes.
The CAA has grounded some 160 outdated Russian-built planes and helicopters in a drive to boost safety.
In June, it deprived four cargo carriers of air certificates and banned another from flying to the EU to prevent other Bulgarian airlines being placed on a European safety watchlist.
Barrot also welcomed Bulgaria's initiative to set up a training centre for airline operators from southeastern Europe. "The centre will allow us to speed up the creation of a unique airspace in the region," he said.
