The Turkish holiday airline Southwind Airlines will not be allowed to fly to the European Union or the United Kingdom in the future. Initially, the Finnish Civil Aviation Authority banned this airline. Background: Connections to the Russian Nordwind Airlines.

Southwind was founded at record speed shortly after the war launched by Russia against Ukraine. Some aircraft that were previously operated by Nordwind Airlines were handed over to the new company. Initially it was said that the carrier was founded explicitly to operate holiday flights between the Russian Federation and Turkey.

The Turkish state also helped with the setup because there were fears that Turkish Airlines might have to stop its flights to Russia, which are considered extremely lucrative, in order not to get into a disagreement with the European Union and the USA. Therefore, Southwind Airlines should form some kind of hedge. However, there have been no sanctions against Turkish Airlines so far, so it can continue to benefit from both bringing Russian tourists to Turkey and acting as a transfer hub for Russian connections.

Southwind Airlines is no longer exclusively active in the Russia-Turkey business, but is also rushing into the European Union. This is now over, because the Turkish carrier is no longer allowed to fly to the EU. Finland initially banned the company because an investigation had shown that Southwind Airlines was not under the control of the official Turkish owners. Allegedly, these are only intended to act as straw men for the Russian Nordwind Airlines. This is sharply rejected by the Turkish airline.

Shortly after Finland announced the ban, the European Union followed suit and banned Southwind Airlines from its airspace. The United Kingdom has also joined this measure. The simplified explanation given is that it is de facto a subsidiary of the sanctioned Russian Nordwind Airlines. According to the aviation authorities, the official owners and the official Turkish management are said to only have straw man functions for Russians at Nordwind Airlines.

It took the authorities a long time to recognize this fact. While at the beginning Nordwind Airlines clearly committed itself to Southwind Airlines, things are a little different now. Initially, aircraft were even re-registered as Southwind Airlines and, according to Turkish media reports, Nordwind Airlines is said to have “leased” pilots and flight attendants from Russia to Turkey over an unspecified period of time.

The decision by the EU authorities certainly has consequences for some tour operators. In the 2024 summer flight schedule, some Turkey charters with aircraft from Southwind Airlines were planned from DA-CH. These will not take place. Tour operators therefore have to look for alternatives.