LOT Polish Airlines

LOT Polish Airlines (ICAO: LOT) is the flag carrier of Poland, with a history spanning nearly a century, connecting Poland and Central and Eastern Europe with numerous destinations worldwide.

LOT Polish Airlines was founded on December 29, 1928, with operations officially commencing on January 1, 1929. It was established by the Polish government, taking over existing domestic airlines, and is recognized as one of the world's oldest airlines still in operation and a founding member of IATA. After World War II, it was re-established as a state-owned enterprise. In the post-1989 era, LOT transitioned to Western aircraft and joined the Star Alliance in 2003.

The airline's main hub and operational base is Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), which serves as a central point for both domestic and international flights. LOT also maintains secondary operational bases at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) and Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport (RZE), which play a role in facilitating connections.

LOT Polish Airlines operates a modern fleet primarily consisting of American Boeing and Brazilian Embraer aircraft. The wide-body fleet is comprised of Boeing 787 Dreamliners (including 787-8 and 787-9 variants) for long-haul routes. For short and medium-haul routes, the airline utilizes Boeing 737s (737-800 and 737 MAX 8) and various Embraer E-Jets (E170, E175, E190, E195). As of October 2023, the wide-body fleet (787s) has an average age of 9.4 years for the 787-8 and 4.9 years for the 787-9, with an overall fleet-wide mean of 11.4 years.

LOT's route network encompasses over 97 to 120 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. The airline has a significant focus on connecting Central and Eastern Europe with North America and Asia, offering direct long-haul flights to major cities like New York, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, Beijing, Tokyo, and Seoul. LOT Polish Airlines has been a member of the Star Alliance, the world's largest global airline alliance, since 2003, enhancing its global reach and connectivity through codeshare agreements and coordinated flight schedules.

The airline offers three distinct cabin classes: LOT Business Class, LOT Premium Economy, and LOT Economy Class. Business Class provides features such as fully-flat seats on long-haul flights, a specially curated menu, higher baggage allowance, priority airport services, and access to Business Lounges. Premium Economy offers enhanced comfort with semi-flat seats, increased legroom, priority services, and an exquisite menu on long and medium-haul routes. Economy Class is designed for affordable travel with complimentary carry-on baggage, snacks, and drinks on board.