EU Prohibits Turkish Airline from Flying Over Europe Due to Ties with Russia

The European Union has prohibited Southwind Airlines, based in Antalya, from operating flights within the territory of member states due to the airline's "connections" with Russia, reports the Turkish publication Turizm Güncel. The information was relayed by RIA Novosti.

According to the article, the EU announced the decision on Thursday, referencing the legal basis of the sanctions regulation implemented in July 2014, which enforces sanctions against Russia due to the situation in Ukraine. The media has described the EU's decision as scandalous.

Just the day before, the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR) announced the indefinite postponement of flights from Sharm El Sheikh to Moscow for Russian tourists, allegedly due to the EU's ban on Southwind. ATOR clarified that on Thursday, Brussels informed EU member countries that Southwind Airlines (officially known as Cortex Aviation and Tourism Trade) has been banned from flying and landing in Europe in accordance with the sanctions regulations.

The association noted that this will not affect flights from Turkey, where Southwind also conducts flights from Russia, stating that "they will be conducted slightly longer."