Countries

Afghanistan

The civil aviation sector is central to Afghanistan's reconstruction efforts since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001. The Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation is working with international partners and donors for the rehabilitation, organisation and management of Afghan airspace. Responsibility for its airspace will pass from the US-led International Security Assistance Force to the Afghan Government at the end of the country's stabilisation process. The main hub is Kabul International Airport in the country's capital.

Ariana Afghan Airlines, the government-owned-and-operated carrier, has historically had autonomy in the aviation market. The airline was completely grounded in November 2001 during the overthrow of the Taliban government by US allies in Operation Enduring Freedom. It commenced rebuilding operations soon after and flies to a number of international destinations – including Middle East and Central Asian countries, China, India and Germany – although it remains on the list of carriers banned in the European Union (as at Jul-2010). The Government has since opened up the market with Kam Air – founded in August 2003 – becoming the first commercial airline. Safi Airways, with five aircraft and a network including Frankfurt, Gulf States and India, is the second-largest carrier after Ariana.

Albania

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in Albania is undertaking a review of the country's aviation code. Currently, Albania’s national legislation and various international agreements regulate the country’s airspace. The new code is expected to clearly define the DGCA as a pure regulator while seeking to align Albania with the Single European Sky.

Albanian Airlines originated as a private airline for communist politicians and is now privately owned. Albanian Airlines operates from its hub at Tirana Nënë Tereza International Airport .

Algeria

Located in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa, Algeria's national carrier is Air Algerie, which dominates the network from its main hub at Houari Boumedienne Airport and secondary hub at Oran Es Senia Airport. The carrier operates both domestic and international services. The Algerian Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation controls and oversees aviation in the country, however, services for safety and air navigation are outsourced to Etablissement National de la Navigation Arienne (ENNA).

American Samoa

American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States, is part of the Samoan Islands chain. The territory has a total of four airports, two of which have paved runways catering for both short and long-haul services. The main airport is Pago Pago International Airport (PPG), also referred to as Tafuna International airport, which is government-owned. The other three are Fitiuta, Ofu and Tau airports. Tau is the only airport in American Samoa that accepts only private flights. Polynesian Airlines, the dominant carrier, operates frequent flights from Pago Pago to Samoa, while Hawaiian Airlines and Inter Island Airways service the region from Honolulu and Apia. PPG also has Asia Pacific Airlines operated cargo flights to Honolulu. American Samoa Civil Aviation Authority is the body responsible for overseeing and regulating the aviation industry in American Samoa. 

Angola

Aviation in Angola is comprised of several local airlines, all of which are blacklisted from flying to the European Union with exception of TAAG, which is subject to conditions. TAAG Angola Airlines is the flag carrier of Angola. Based in Luanda International airport, the airline has a large domestic network. The Department of Civil Aviation regulates all activities of civil aviation in national and international airspace within the jurisdiction of Angola.

Anguilla

Anguilla is a British overseas territory in the Eastern Caribbean, part of the British West Indies. Civil aviation operations in Anguilla fall under the jurisdiction of British authorities. The United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority complies with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for overseeing Anguilla’s air carrier operations.

Wallblake airport is Anguilla’s main airport with a runway of 5,462 feet (1,665 m) in length and can accommodate moderate-sized aircraft, however there are no refuelling facilities. It’s main airline, Trans Anguilla Air (TAA) is an air Charter airline operating to and from Anguilla Wallblake Airport to points in the Caribbean.

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation in the Caribbean Sea. The main international airport is VC Bird International, located north-west of the capital St John’s. Air services from Antigua to Barbuda use Codrington Airport. The Netherlands Antilles government-owned airline Windward Island Airways (Winair) services this area, while American Airlines and American Eagle service the region from the US.

Argentina

Argentina is the second largest country in South America, has 34 airports and multiple regional carriers. Aerolíneas Argentinas is the nation’s flag carrier and the largest domestic and international airline, based at Buenos Aires International Airport (Ministro Pistarini International Airport). Domestic services are based out of the domestic airport Aeroparque Jorge Newbery. Aerolíneas Argentinas' sister company, Austral Líneas Aereas, is the second largest airline.

Comando de Regiones Areas (CRA) is the safety and navigation service provider for Argentina’s airspace. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (DAC - Departamento de Aviacao Civil) oversees and regulates the airspace.

Armenia

Armenia's national flag carrier is Armavia Airlines which is based in Yerevan Zvartnots International Airport (EVN), the main gateway to Armenia. However other airlines such as Ararat International Airlines, Jet Armenia and Atlantis European Airways also provide domestic and international flights to surrounding destinations. Stepanavan Airport  and Erebuni Airport are two other airports also in Armenia.

The General Department of Civil Aviation (GDCA) is Armenia's regulatory body for aviation; while EUROCONTROL is its air navigation service provider.

Aruba

Aruba is a 33km long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located approximately 28 km north of the coast of Venezuela. This small nation-state relies heavily on tourism income and thus its airports are the major infrastructure on the island. The three airports servicing travellers are Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), De Vuijst Field and Marine Aerodrome Airport. AUA has daily flights to various cities across the United States, as well as connecting Aruba with South America, and to Europe through Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Insel Air and Dutch Antilles Express dominate the network from their main hub at Queen Beatrix International Airport, however other seasonal airlines such as Air Canada, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines also offer services to other destinations. Department of Civil Aviation Aruba (DCA) is the body responsible for the aviation industry in Aruba. 

Australia

With a very large land mass and vast tracks of uninhabited areas, aviation is vital to Australia's economic and social fabric. Australia’s main international gateways are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Cairns and the Gold Coast. The commercial aviation market is comprised of four main carriers that serve the domestic routes: national carrier Qantas Airways; Jetstar (Qantas’ LCC unit); Virgin Blue and latest entrant Tiger Airways Australia (a unit of Singapore's Tiger Aviation).

Australia's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government – the key regulatory arm for national aviation – has established an open skies policy framework. The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) monitors safety and maintenance standards, while Airservices Australia is a corporatised (government-owned) air traffic controller.

Austria

Civil aviation in Austria is dominated by the Austrian Airlines Group and focused on the main hub at Vienna International Airport. The Austrian Airlines Group comprises Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways among others. NIKI is Austria’s largest LCC and is part of the Air Berlin Group.

The authority for civil aviation in Austria is the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT), while Austro Control GmbH is the air navigation services provider for Austrian airspace. The Department for Aviation Policy "works to improve Austria’s integration with international aviation systems, taking particular account of the aviation industry’s specific interests".

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. The Government is keen to restart the tourism industry after it was destroyed by the conflicts in the 1990s with a key driver of this industry being Azerbaijan Airlines (otherwise known as Azal), which is the national flag carrier of the country, with its main hub at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Other airlines servicing the region include Imair Airlines, Silk Way Airlines and Turan Air, some of which provide daily routes to Russia, Turkey and Western and Eastern Europe. Although Azerbaijan is a small country in size, it does have a number of airports other than the main international airport and they include Akstafa Airport, Belokany Airport and Gabala Airport. State Civil Aviation Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the central regulatory body for the aviation industry in Azerbaijan.

Bahamas

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas consists of 29 islands. The main airline servicing the region is the government-owned and funded airline Bahamasair, however, the largest airline by fleet operating intra-island services is Western Air. The Bahamas has two international airports: the main is Grand Bahama International Airport and the second Lynden Pindling International Airport.

According to the ICAO, "considerable progress has been made within the legislation of civil aviation in the Bahamas" to improve standards and safety. The Department of Civil Aviation in conjunction with Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers provides safety and navigation services.

Bahrain

Civil aviation is dominated by Gulf Airways – the flagship carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain – but it is facing a rising threat from privately owned new entrant, Bahrain Air. The Bahrain Department of Civil Aviation Affairs is the regulatory authority for all transport and controls the Bahrain Flight Information Region (FIR). The Kingdom has adopted an open skies policy to provide opportunities for Gulf Air and other airlines to operate on an unrestricted basis.

Bangladesh

Civil aviation within Bangladesh is comprised of a couple of key airlines. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, recently publicly listed, is the flag carrier, with its main hub at Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka. Shahjalal is also a hub for GMG Airlines and United Airways.

The Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB) functions as the regulatory body for all aviation-related activities in Bangladesh. It is also the aeronautical service provider.