US Lifts Restrictions on Ecuadorian Carriers

The US Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday lifted restrictions on Ecuadorian airlines flying to U.S. airports by raising Ecuador´s safety rating.

“The Federal Aviation Administration said it is upgrading Ecuador aviation security level to Category 1,” the U.S. Embassy in Quito said in a statement.

The decision to upgrade Ecuador from category 2 airline safety status came as U.S. relations with the small Andean country have been strained over Quito´s move to annul a contract held by a U.S. oil company.

The FAA in 1995 gave Ecuador a Category 2 safety rating, which restricted Ecuadorian flights to the United States.

Airlines in countries under this status must lease aircraft from a Category 1 country to fly to U.S. airports.

The FAA recently also raised Venezuela to Category 1 status after a bitter war of words between Washington and left-wing President Hugo Chavez. Venezuela was also given a Category 2 in 1995 due to safety concerns.