The European Commission has published a blacklist of airlines which it says fail to meet basic safety standards.
The list - which is published on the Commission's website - contains 93 carriers subject to a complete ban from operating within the EU and three other companies which face operational restrictions.
Most of the blacklisted airlines hail either from Africa, in particular the Democratic Republic of Congo, or former Soviet Union states.
The list was compiled on the basis of contributions from each member state in consultation with the EU's Aviation Safety Committee.
The Commission said: "From now on, companies which are banned in one member state will be banned in the whole of the EU."
Jacques Barrot, vice-president of the Commission responsible for transport, said: "The European Union now has a coherent approach to banning airlines"
Mr Barrot said:"This blacklist will keep dubious airlines out of Europe. It will also make sure that all airlines operating in Europe's sky meet the highest safety standards".
The Commission believes the blacklist will encourage all airlines operating in Europe to comply fully with safety standards and will dissuade unscrupulous airlines from starting up services in Europe.
It intends to update the list every three months.
If an airline feels it should be taken off the list because it has complied with safety standards, it must contact the Commission and then be assessed by the committee of aviation safety experts.
