Published on
September 25, 2025

In a significant indicator of strengthened tourism and aviation ties between Turkey and Russia, Southwind Airlines has started operating flights to and from Krasnodar, after a long break in flights due to the pandemic. The first Turkish carrier has resumed flights to Krasnodar, and Southwind Airlines started operating flights from Turkey starting from the 1st of October 2025. The growing demand from both countries and the recovery of the aviation industry has influenced the decision to resume flights.

The reestablishment of Southwind Airline flights to the Krasnodar region from Turkey will also influence the growing tourism from and to Russia. Turkey has been a popular destination for Russian tourists during the summer, enabling easy access to the Black Sea. The resumption of flights will certainly ease travelling for tourists from both countries while also supporting the economy of both countries through the enhancement of trade and cultural ties.

Enhanced Travel Connectivity for Tourists

With the new flights from Southwind Airlines, Krasnodar will once again enjoy the connection to Türkiye, thereby offering tourists an additional convenient and direct travel option. Krasnodar is an international and domestic travel focal point and offers a convenient travel option to the warm and sunny Black Sea coast. Tourists who wish to learn more about the country’s rich history, culture, and nature will surely be amazed by the region’s treasures. Southwind Airlines will help improve the travel experience for visitors from Russia to Türkiye and from Türkiye to Krasnodar through the new flights.

Krasnodar is home to a handful of adobe and brick constructions standing alongside stunning parks that make the southern portion of Russia a cultural and historical wonder. Museums, alongside the Regional Art and State Historical Archaeological Museums, the stunning Red Square, and numerous other attractions, welcome visitors by the droves. The new flights will help bolster the ever-growing bond of cultural and tourism exchange between the two countries by further simplifying access for Turkish tourists to this region of Russia.

Istanbul, Turkiye is a country on the travel wish list of almost every tourist from Russia because of its coastal resorts, historical sites and cities like Istanbul, Antalya and Cappadocia. Since flights are active again, this eases travel to Turkiye for travellers from Russia and increases access to their rich culture and beautiful tourist sites. Along with Istanbul, which serves as a port for many international tourists from Russia, Antalya is another highly demanded summer beach destination.

Advances in the tourism and aviation sector

The advancement of international tourism and the emergence of Southwind Airlines are beacons of hope for the aviation and tourism sectors, which have been heavily impacted post-COVID and are struggling to get back on their feet. Both the Turkiye and Russian tourism sectors are looking to expand and deepen their links, which is why travel to and from Krasnodar is reinstating air connectivity between the two countries.

Turkiye has been a favourable partner for Russia for a long time. There is a good deal of tourism between the two, and Russia sends a few million tourists to Turkey every year. Reinstituting travel between both countries will help the tourism sector grow even more with additional flights and connections in both directions.

Apart from expanding tourism, the renewed flights also aid in the recovery of the broader aviation industry. It is an additional step to help airlines recover from the damage caused by the pandemic. The reestablishment of the flight services to Krasnodar serves as an example of how aviation is recovering, and the direct need for flights to Russia from Türkiye is increasing.

Partnerships in Aviation and Tourism for Additional Growth

The successful termination of the flights from Krasnodar to Türkiye may motivate other airlines to offer services, in light of the growth in the Russia-Turkey travel corridor. The availability of direct flights to both countries encourages tourism and eases access to the diverse cultural, historical, and natural attractions of both nations.

Southwind Airlines has, in collaboration with Russian aviation authorities, opened new international partnerships, especially in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East aviation corridor. The strategic decision of the airline to resume services to Krasnodar also adds to the ambition to connect more tourists to the attractive destinations in both regions.

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (tourism.gov.tr) and the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) (russiatourism.ru) are practising promotion of bilateral tourism and are positioning the countries as prime tourist destinations to correspond to the growth of the tourism industry. Both ministries are focused on enhancing the tourist experience by promoting growth in aviation and tourism, as well as cultural exchanges in sustainable tourism.

Conclusion

Southwind Airlines’ expansion of its services to include direct flights to and from Krasnodar is yet another indicator of the development of the aviation and tourism industry between Russia and Türkiye. Southwind Airlines is making both destinations more accessible and elevating the travel experience for visitors through all of its direct flights. With the increased accessibility for tourists, Southwind Airlines further strengthens the relationship between aviation and tourism, providing seamless travel between Türkiye and Russia.