Air Madagascar Removed From EU Blacklist

Air Madagascar has been removed from the European Union's safety blacklist, allowing it to fly within the 28-nation bloc for the first time since 2011.

"All the planes of Air Madagascar can fly over European skies as from Thursday noon," James Andrianalisoa, director general of Civil Aviation of Madagascar, told a news conference.

Air Madagascar said in a statement that its removal from the blacklist would allow it to proceed with seeking a strategic partner.

The decision to take Air Madagascar off the list was announced in Brussels on Thursday.

The government directly owns 90 percent of Air Madagascar, while Air France owns 0.2 percent, staff and other individuals hold 0.12 percent and the rest is held by state-owned companies.

It has a fleet of 11 aircraft and employs about 2,000 people.