The Turkish airline Southwind Airlines, which is affected by flight bans in Europe, has launched a new route to Russia on 15 June 2025. The connection runs from the Turkish holiday resort Antalya to Moscow Airport ZhukovskyIn the current summer flight schedule, this route is served once a day, as reported by the specialist portal "Aero Routes."
Southwind Airlines operates a mixed fleet on this route to meet varying capacity needs. The aircraft used are: Boeing 737 MAX 8 with 189 seats, Airbus A321 with 220 seats and Boeing 777-300 with 550 seats. This selection allows the airline to respond flexibly to demand and accommodate a wide range of passenger numbers, from individual travelers to larger groups.
The airline is focusing on the Russian market, as it is denied access to European airspace. The ban stems from concerns about the airline's ownership and control, as there are alleged links to sanctioned Russian companies or individuals. These circumstances force Southwind Airlines to focus its operations primarily on Russia and other non-Western destinations.
In addition to the new connection to Moscow-Zhukovsky, Southwind Airlines also flies to other cities in Russia. These destinations include Win, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Ekaterinburg, St. Petersburg and NovosibirskThis underlines the airline's strategy to establish itself as a major player in air traffic between Turkey and Russia and to meet the demand for direct flights from Russian regions to popular Turkish holiday destinations.