Turkey’s Southwind Airlines resumed flights in European Union airspace (Western Europe) on March 2, 2026. Announcing the flight on social media, the Turkish airline resumed the service with a flight from Antalya to Berlin Brandenburg, carried out with a dry-leased 189-seater B737-8.
Southwind Airlines © Anna Zvereva
Southwind’s ban lifted
The Turkish airline was banned from European Union airspace in March 2024 by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency due to suspected Russian ties. According to the agency, Southwind Airlines attempted to circumvent European Union sanctions against Russia.
Southwind challenged the ban in court in August 2024, but failed as the European Union General Court ruled that no challengeable EU decision existed. The court said that a European Commission email to Southwind, while stating the ban was in place and providing justification, was not a legal decision.
Consequently, no EU decision could be challenged in court. However, in December 2024, the airline was removed from the list.
Southwind’s network
The airline serves at least eight Russian destinations, two destinations in Saudi Arabia, and four domestic routes within Türkiye. It operates a fleet of 14 aircraft, including four A321-200s, one A321-200NX, two A330-200s, three B737-8s, three B777-300s, and one B777-300ER.
Southwind Airlines said that it now intends to expand its network with more European destinations.
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