Is Russia launching a new refugee airline just in time for Christmas? Apparently, yes.
Illegal migrants try to enter the EU at the Belarusian-Polish border crossing (Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images).
According to BILD information, Polish security authorities are explicitly warning of a “new, organized rush of refugees via Russia and Belarus”. According to BILD information, the new flight connection via the supposedly Turkish airline “Southwind” is part of it.
Tickets at a bargain price
Belarusian authorities announced this Friday: “The Turkish charter airline Southwind Airlines is introducing direct flights between the largest cities in Belarus and Turkey.” Bargain price: 700 Belarus rubles (approx. 195 euros).
The airline’s advantage over Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s (69) state airline “Belavia”: “Southwind” wants to fly two hours less per route than the Belarusian “Belavia”, which is under EU sanctions.
The reason: The supposed Turkish airline can take the direct route via Poland. The Belarusians have to make a mega arc over Russia. Turkish Airlines canceled its Minsk connections under pressure from Europe.
Dictator Vladimir Putin (71, Moscow) and dictator Alexander Lukashenko (69, Minsk) – (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
But apparently only the company’s headquarters on the “Southwind” is Turkish:
▶︎“Southwind Airlines”, based in Antalya, Turkey, was founded shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Three of their aircraft and most of their staff come from “Nordwind Airlines”, a Russian airline based in Moscow.
▶︎ In a roundabout way, the airline is owned by the Russian company “Pegas Touristik”, which belongs to a Russian couple with partly Turkish roots.
▶︎ Belarusian exiled journalists suspect that the airline only serves to circumvent the sanctions against Russia.
▶︎ Polish authorities are certain: the deal serves the interests of Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin (71) .
A “Southwind” plane takes off from Munich Airport (picture alliance / CHROMORANGE)