Airlines of the Philippines Banned to Fly in EU?

I feel sad when I learned in the news that airlines in the Philippines are not allowed to fly in the European Union.

The European Commission spokeswoman for transport affairs Helen Kearns announced that it has banned all airlines in the Philippines and Sudan from flying into the EU for "serious and persistent non-compliance" with the bloc's air safety rules.

The news further adds that "neither of the two countries has planes flying directly into the EU, but the blacklisting increases pressure on them to improve safety as European citizens could be discouraged from taking their flights."

Meanwhile, the head of the Civil Aviation Authority, Alfonso Cusi insists that, "our aircraft meet the international standards in safety. I have invited the EU safety aviation commission to come to the Philippines for re-inspection this May to show that we have corrected the problem they have raised."

The flag carrier of the country, Philippine Airlines is registered to fly to the EU but PAL's last commercial flight was in 1999.

Photo above is a stamp issued on March 15, 1991 celebrating the 50th anniversary of Philippine Airlines.