The air carrier Southwind Airlines, operating from Türkiye, has requested permission from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) to commence flight operations to Finland. Traficom has informed the airline that it cannot be allowed to operate flights to Finland.
Traficom has informed Southwind Airlines that it cannot be permitted to operate flights to Finland. Based on Traficom's overall assessment, the substantial ownership and effective control of the airline is not vested in the Contracting Party designating it or in its nationals, as would be required by the applicable Air Services Agreement. Therefore, the operations by Southwind Airlines would not be permissible under the EU Sanctions Regulation (Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014).
"Our overall assessment shows that the substantial ownership and effective control of Southwind Airlines is not held by the stated Turkish individuals or companies. We have concluded that the airline and its control are linked to Russian stakeholders", says Director General Jarkko Saarimäki.
Further information
Director Jari Pöntinen, jari.pontinen@traficom.fi, tel. +358 29 534 6071