BRUSSELS, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- European Union (EU) transport ministers backed on Monday a regulation to publish blacklist of airlines that fail to meet safety requirements, in a bid to protect travelers.

    Air carriers that fail to comply will be banned from operating throughout the 25-nation bloc, said a statement by the EU council meeting.

    Previously, airlines banned in one EU nation could operate in others. The new rules will close this loophole.

    The blacklist will be available online and passengers will have to be informed if they are to fly on a named carrier. The passengers will also be able to claim compensation should their airline be included on the list after they bought their ticket, or their carrier is changed to a firm that is on the list.

    Companies will have a chance to defend themselves against the allegations of safety deficiencies, and the list will be updated every three months by the EU aviation safety agency.

    Laws supporting the blacklist, which have already been approved by the European Parliament, are expected to come into effect early next year.

    The European move follows some tragic air crashes in August in which hundreds of passengers were killed.

    Lists of problem operators already exist in the United Kingdom, France and Belgium. Enditem