EU bans Russian-controlled Southwind air carrier from flying in its skies

The European Union has followed Finland in banning Turkish Southwind Airlines, which has been accused of being under the de facto control of the Russian Federation, from flying in the skies above its territory.

Source: Turizm Guncel, a Turkish media outlet; aero telegraph

Details: "Our assessment shows that a significant share of ownership and effective control [of the firm] is not held by Turkish individuals or companies. We have concluded that the airline and its control are linked to the Russians," said Jarkko Saarimäki, head of the Finnish transport authority Traficom.

Southwind Airlines was founded in 2022 in Antalya, Türkiye, and was focused on flights from Russia. Its creation was prompted by the fact that many Turkish airlines refused to fly to Russia following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the reduction in the number of flights operated by Russian airlines.

Finland first refused to allow Southwind to fly to its territory on 25 March, citing the fact that the company was de facto controlled by Russia, which contradicts the EU sanctions.

On 28 March, Turizm Guncel, a Turkish media outlet, reported that EU authorities informed the member states that Southwind Airlines, whose official name is Cortex Aviation and Tourism Trade, was banned from taking off, flying and landing in accordance with Article 31 of Regulation No. 833/2014, Art. 3d 31, which entered into force in July 2014 and which outlines sanctions related to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Brussels officials said this ban would be enforced immediately.

Prior to the sanctions being imposed, Southwind operated flights to Germany, Switzerland, Greece, North Macedonia, and Italy, among others.

On 30 March, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia announced that Turkish Airlines flights to Kaliningrad were being cancelled due to EU sanctions.

The Southwind ban also makes it impossible for the company to fly to Switzerland and North Macedonia.

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