UAE ZOOMS IN ON BANNED AIRLINE OPERATORS

DUBAI, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- United Arab Emirates' (UAE) aviation authorities
are taking measures to stop airlines banned from European airspace from using
airports in this Gulf state.

Its General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) chief Saif Al Suwaidi told The
National that a list of such airline operators was being drawn up by the agency.

"We've started cleaning up the market from those who are misusing the
open-sky policy," he was quoted as saying by the daily.

It said some carriers deemed unfit to fly in Europe because of safety
concerns were routinely using airports in the UAE as transit points, maintenance
hubs and even "virtual" operating bases.

Ranging from passenger airlines to cargo operators, the offending carriers
are mainly registered in eastern Europe as well as central and southern Asia.
-- BERNAMA