Even though aviation industry rules are as strict as ever in 2025, travelers need still think about operational safety while selecting their airline.
Airlines may be placed on the UK Air Safety List of carriers prohibited from operating if they do not adhere to operational procedures and globally accepted safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Following its departure from the European Union in 2020, the UK Government agreed on a Future Trade Agreement from 31 December 2020 to establish a new framework for air travel.
Third-country operators are now required to hold a UK-Part TCO certificate and a Foreign Carrier Permit issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before any commercial flight can travel to, from or within the United Kingdom.
According to advice from the CAA and the UK Air Safety Committee, 138 named carriers are currently prohibited from operating commercial flights in UK airspace due to poor safety performance.
Here are the airlines banned from taking off for the UK to protect and inform travellers.
The airlines banned from operating in the UK
Afghanistan
All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Afghanistan are banned from operating, including:
- Ariana Afghan Airlines
- Kam Air
Angola
All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Angola are banned from operating, including:
- Aerojet
- Air Jet
- Bestfly Aircraft
- Guicango
- Heliang
- Sjl
These two airlines are exempt from the restrictions:
- Taag-Linhas Aereas De Angola, S.A. dba Taag- Angola Airlines
- Heli Malongo Aviacao e Servicos De Angola, LDA dba Heli-Malongo
Armenia
All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Armenia are banned from operating, including:
- Aircompany Armenia
- Armenia Airways
- Armenia Helicopters
- Atlantis Armenian Airlines
- Atlantis European Airways
- Mars Avia
- Skyball
Comoros
One carrier with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Comoros is prohibited from operating commercial air services within the UK: