Turkish Southwind Airlines banned from flying through Europe due to ties with Russia – Kommersant

The European Union has imposed a ban on flights on the territory of the union countries of the Turkish airline Southwind Airlines, the publication reported. Turizmguncel. On March 25, the Finnish transport and communications agency Traficom banned the air carrier from operating flights to the country due to ties with Russia.

The EU announced the decision yesterday, March 28, citing sanctions regulation 833/2014 of July 31, 2014, imposing restrictive measures in connection with Russia’s actions in Ukraine, writes Turizmguncel. IN press release Traficom, published three years earlier, stated that the bulk of Southwind Airlines’ ownership belonged not to Turkish, but to Russian structures. The agency pointed out that this violates EU sanctions.

By data Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOP), Southwind Airlines planned flights to Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart in Germany, as well as Heraklion in Greece. At the moment, flights to Russia and Belarus from Turkey continue to operate, but the planes fly over the Black Sea and do not enter EU territory.

Russian tourists reported a delay in their Air Cairo flight from Sharm el-Sheikh. As ATOP reported, citing a source, this airline may be recognized as affiliated with Southwind.

Southwind Airlines is based in Antalya. The airline’s flights were launched in July 2022 to transport Russians. Bild reported about her connection with Russia in December 2023. At the same time, a company representative stated that there were no Russians in the management of Southwind, and all aircraft were registered in Turkey.

Lusine Balasyan