Freetown — The Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), Madam Musayeroh Barrie, has announced that all necessary modalities are now in place to remove Sierra Leone from the European Union’s aviation blacklist.
Speaking to the media, Madam Barrie highlighted the progress made since she assumed leadership of the SLCAA.
“Since 2008, we have been on that safety list that many people refer to as the blacklist. We are happy to inform you all that within this one year, we have held two successful meetings with the EU Safety Commission. As we speak, we have finalized a road map that will see Sierra Leone removed from the safety list this year,” she stated.
The EU aviation blacklist, which Sierra Leone has been on for 17 years, prohibits airlines registered in the country or holding an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) from Sierra Leone from flying into EU airspaces.
Madam Barrie revealed that the SLCAA has been working tirelessly with the EU and other stakeholders to address the barriers that led to the country’s inclusion on the list. The road map, agreed upon during high-level discussions with the EU Safety Commission, is expected to pave the way for Sierra Leone’s removal from the blacklist in 2025.
However, Sierra Leone’s flagship airline, Air Sierra Leone, does not yet have an AOC from the SLCAA. The airline plans to operate regional routes under an AOC from Nigeria and the UK route under an AOC from the UK, which are unaffected by the EU ban.
The SLCAA is confident that the recent developments will improve Sierra Leone’s aviation sector and enhance its global standing. The removal from the blacklist is expected to boost international travel and economic opportunities for the country.
