The Turkish carrier accused of masking a Russian identity

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the complex world of aviation, some airlines serve as shadows for others. Southwind Airlines emerged in 2022 with a specific mission: maintaining tourism links between Turkey and Russia during a period of intense geopolitical friction and heavy international sanctions.

Antalya serves as the home for Southwind Airlines, a Turkish holiday carrier launched by Cortex Havacılık ve Turizm Ticaret A.Ş. during April 2022. Its primary commercial objective was to mitigate the loss of Russian tourists traveling to Turkey following the invasion of Ukraine. The airline began operations quickly, launching its first commercial flight to Perm on August 12, 2022, and expanding into Germany by September of that year. The company received preclearance from Turkey's Directorate General of Civil Aviation in June 2022. By the conclusion of 2023, its fleet size was projected to reach 14 aircraft.

However, the airline's operational structure drew significant scrutiny from European regulators. In March 2024, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency banned Southwind from Finnish airspace, labeling it a de facto Russian airline. The agency alleged that the carrier was attempting to circumvent EU sanctions against Russia—sanctions originally imposed in response to military aggression against Ukraine. This assessment led to a broader ban on March 28, 2024, prohibiting the airline from entering all EU airspace under regulation No 833/2014. Switzerland also issued a formal ban against the carrier shortly after the Finnish assessment. These restrictions were tied to EU regulation No 833/2014.

The suspicion of Russian ties is bolstered by reports that Southwind shares aircraft and flight crews with Nordwind Airlines. While it joined IATA in July 2024 and initially planned to launch flights to several United Kingdom airports in the summer of 2024, those plans were ultimately cancelled following the sanctions. The geopolitical tension surrounding its identity shifted recently; by December 13, 2024, Southwind Airlines was removed from the EU's restricted list. The airline's official website is available in four different languages. It provides information for travelers in English, German, Russian, and Turkish.

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