It is definitely a lot of action at LOT. Not something I’m even used to! With fuel prices going up they definitely need to finish upgrading the fleet soon.

With these additional 737 Max8 leases there is some more news.
There was talk that LOTs 737-400 being maintenance troubles, they were going to be reserve aircraft, but due to the expended schedule they are flying regular schedules.
There are 2 more Q400 being leased for short term, one probably to cover for the out of service aircraft. One more Blue Air 737-500 being wet leased due to delays in the E-195 delays.

LOT is cancelling around 20 flights a day, something that happened last couple of summers so more aircraft are needed soon!!

BlueSky1976 wrote:

These are going to replace the obsolete 737-400s and 737-800s wet leased from Blue Air, actually.

The obsolete 737-400's and 737-800's are a pretty good candidate for freighter conversions

LOTs 787-9 just came out of paint with the polish flag on the side. Anyone in WA state have any pics?

From Lot's facebook: https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5BC03CA5

https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5BB1FFC5

Excellent idea. Poor execution.
Where's the White Eagle???!?

SRQLOT wrote:

LOTs 787-9 just came out of paint with the polish flag on the side. Anyone in WA state have any pics?

They have a few pictures on their Instagram page. Personally I don't like it, they could have done a much better job.

BlueSky1976 wrote:

From Lot's facebook: https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5BC03CA5

https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5BB1FFC5

Excellent idea. Poor execution.
Where's the White Eagle???!?

No eagle probably because it can only go on government aircraft, though the E175s LOT leased to the government did have the eagle. Given that LOT is still government-owned, SP-LSC might as well have the eagle. I expect SP-LSC to do a fly-by over Warsaw on Nov. 11 as part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence.

hoya wrote:

No eagle probably because it can only go on government aircraft

That's not correct. All of Lot's 767s that were owned had the White Eagle next to their given names and city emblems (SP-LOA "Gniezno", SP-LOB "Kraków", SP-LPA "Warszawa", SP-LPB "Gdańsk" and SP-LPC "Poznań").

It's even more appropriate to have the Polish national emblem on the aircraft that's supposed to highlight the centennial celebration worldwide. So, again - execution is very poor.

BlueSky1976 wrote:

hoya wrote:

No eagle probably because it can only go on government aircraft

That's not correct. All of Lot's 767s that were owned had the White Eagle next to their given names and city emblems (SP-LOA "Gniezno", SP-LOB "Kraków", SP-LPA "Warszawa", SP-LPB "Gdańsk" and SP-LPC "Poznań").

It's even more appropriate to have the Polish national emblem on the aircraft that's supposed to highlight the centennial celebration worldwide. So, again - execution is very poor.

You're totally correct, completely forgot about the named 767s!

Is LOT planning to launch DEL ?

Crazy4Planes wrote:

Is LOT planning to launch DEL ?

I hope for the time being not! With the current delays and cancellations, and RR issues they need to clean up the current long haul they have.

https://www.lot.com/pl/pl/loty-z-lublina

LOT is now connecting Lublin and Okecie from 03-Sep-2018, one flight each way Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sun.

This is important for Lublin. Due to engineering works between Lublin and Warszawa, the train journey is over 3 hours (used to be ~2h15) to Centralna (a whopping 171km), plus a change to the airport trains. The alternative is a small bus from Dworzec PKS, which still takes over three hours.

This opens up the possibility of many more European destinations, especially with Wizz pulling their based aircraft from there.

pdp wrote:

https://www.lot.com/pl/pl/loty-z-lublina

LOT is now connecting Lublin and Okecie from 03-Sep-2018, one flight each way Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sun.

This is important for Lublin. Due to engineering works between Lublin and Warszawa, the train journey is over 3 hours (used to be ~2h15) to Centralna (a whopping 171km), plus a change to the airport trains. The alternative is a small bus from Dworzec PKS, which still takes over three hours.

This opens up the possibility of many more European destinations, especially with Wizz pulling their based aircraft from there.

Hell ya!!!! I have relatives in Lublin. This will beat having to fly KORD-EPWA then drive the rest of the way!!

Starting in January 2019 LO will fly 12x weekly from WAW to LCY with E190 (LO will be getting 4 new E190’s).

Are there any other airlines which have E170 + E175 + E190 + E195 in their fleet?

Interesting that they are getting four new ones, not second hand. That said, all these different Embraers will provide them with a great deal of flexibility.

Just read too that LOT will be the only European airline too be flying all the E models.

Any press release regarding the E190 order?

Someone83 wrote:

Any press release regarding the E190 order?

https://businessinsider.com.pl/firmy/st ... ku/qympb0t

It’s in Polish, all 4 aircraft will arrive by end of year. It’s a lease I think from NAC all brand new.

More news from LOT. Budapest to London City twice daily starting Jan 18, 2019, so about a week after the flights start from WAW.

Unbelievable. They did get four E90 so maybe next is PRG-LCY. lol

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if LO eventually opens a base at BUD. Wizz Air won't be happy about this.

Blerg wrote:

Unbelievable. They did get four E90 so maybe next is PRG-LCY. lol

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if LO eventually opens a base at BUD. Wizz Air won't be happy about this.

LOT already bases a 788 in Budapest, with LOT AMS servicing the Dreamliner there. It was announced that the maintenance base would be expanded to service Embraers as well, and now we have news of BUD-LCY. I see more business routes popping up out of Budapest and perhaps some regional feed for the transatlantic flights.

filipair wrote:

Blerg wrote:

Unbelievable. They did get four E90 so maybe next is PRG-LCY. lol

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if LO eventually opens a base at BUD. Wizz Air won't be happy about this.

LOT already bases a 788 in Budapest, with LOT AMS servicing the Dreamliner there. It was announced that the maintenance base would be expanded to service Embraers as well, and now we have news of BUD-LCY. I see more business routes popping up out of Budapest and perhaps some regional feed for the transatlantic flights.

Thank you. I am sure BUD would gladly have LO expand there. I am sure these will be suited for business people so let's see if they schedule a third rotation between the two. Maybe to FRA, MUC or some other Star Alliance hub.

So it has been a long time since I’ve done an update on this thread so here we go.

Fleet Update

The last couple of months have been quite eventful for LOT in terms of fleet growth. Last year LOT picked up its remaining two 787-8 on order to bring the total up to 8 and also took delivery of the first two 787-9 with new seats and screens in economy and new screens in Business. The airlines currently operates 10 Dreamliner’s with 5 more on order. LOT was also the first European flag carrier to receive the 737 MAX 8 of which it has now 3 in its fleet with one more to join this month for a total of 12 that have been ordered. The carrier is also taking deliveries of second hand E195’s coming from Azul of Brazil, with 3 having joined the fleet already with 3 more to come to bring the total of E195’s to 12. An additional 4 brand new E190 are supposed to join by January 2019 to operate on the to be launched WAW-LCY and BUD-LCY routes. Three old but refurbished 737 classics continue to operate but keep spending more time on the ground than in the air as they experience constant maintenance issues. Furthermore, last year LOT took delivery of four ex China Eastern Airlines 737-800 that it had acquired on lease from AerCap. The airline has also leased two Q400 from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) to cover its regional network as one Q400 is out of service long term since a nose gear up landing in December. Overall LOT has taken a course of very rapid and aggressive expansion fuelled by a growing domestic market and low interest rates, it remains to be seen if this is sustainable.

PS: The introduction of the E190 will make LOT the world’s first operator all four variants of the E-Jets.

Current Fleet + On Order

Q400 = 12
CRJ9 = 5 (operated by nordica)
E170 = 6
E175 = 12
E190 = 0+4
E195 = 9+3
B734 = 3
B735 = 1 (wet leased from Blue Air)
B738 = 6 (two wet leased form Blue Air)
B73M = 3+9
B788 = 8
B789 = 2+5

Total = 66 + 22

That is it for now, tomorrow I will post an update on Route changes as LOT recently announced its 100th Destination so lots to talk about too.

Has LO become larger than OS?

Blerg wrote:

Has LO become larger than OS?

In terms of fleet size it will catch up to OS by next year, but LOT's planes are smaller on average.

Talking about passengers flown, OS carried nearly 13million in 2017, whilst LOT managed 7million in the same year.

http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/lot-p ... r-170-190/

LOT looking for 300 pilots

Milka wrote:

Blerg wrote:

Has LO become larger than OS?

In terms of fleet size it will catch up to OS by next year, but LOT's planes are smaller on average.

Talking about passengers flown, OS carried nearly 13million in 2017, whilst LOT managed 7million in the same year.

Thank you. I guess this should change in near future especially as Austrian Airlines gets increased competition in VIE.

I like LO. I have been flying with them from the time they had B735s and when the old airport was still operational from time to time. My first flight with them was in 2007 on a E145.

Some good news from LOT concerning it’s flights to Singapore. So far in June the load factors were around 85%, starting in July there will be a 4th rotation added and better load factors. Many people were questioning the validity of this route. With LOT being pleased with the route hopefully they can stop the cancellations throughout its network with the additions of two 737-8M and the 787-9 this week.

https://www.rynek-lotniczy.pl/mobile/lo ... -3860.html

Blerg wrote:

My first flight with them was in 2007 on a E145.

Fun fact, those E145 you flew in still sit at Warsaw Airport, unpainted and in storage ever since they stopped flying for LOT. The airline has been unsuccessful in getting rid of them.

winter wrote:

I will repeat again, governments aren't allowed to subsidize airlines in Europe, it distorts competition.

Sure, but it's ok for Lufthansa to own half of the airlines in Europe. KLM-Air France, British Airways and Iberia.
Stop saying stupid things.

What happened with Nordica/LOT route from Groningen to Brussels?

Milka wrote:

Blerg wrote:

My first flight with them was in 2007 on a E145.

Fun fact, those E145 you flew in still sit at Warsaw Airport, unpainted and in storage ever since they stopped flying for LOT. The airline has been unsuccessful in getting rid of them.

Absolutely not true. These airplanes are being held hostage for unpaid bills. LOT sold them as soon as they left the fleet.

dcaviation wrote:

These airplanes are being held hostage for unpaid bills. LOT sold them as soon as they left the fleet.

I did not know that, I assumed watching them sit for so many years on the ramp in Warsaw that no one want's to buy them. Who did they sell them to and why is no one repossessing them?

konkret wrote:

What happened with Nordica/LOT route from Groningen to Brussels?

Apparently canceled due to low demand, source: http://northerntimes.nl/2018/03/07/no-f ... -brussels/

Milka wrote:

dcaviation wrote:

These airplanes are being held hostage for unpaid bills. LOT sold them as soon as they left the fleet.

I did not know that, I assumed watching them sit for so many years on the ramp in Warsaw that no one want's to buy them. Who did they sell them to and why is no one repossessing them?

They were sold to Dniproavia and they are repossessed by PPL who is holding them hostage.

dcaviation wrote:

Milka wrote:

dcaviation wrote:

These airplanes are being held hostage for unpaid bills. LOT sold them as soon as they left the fleet.

I did not know that, I assumed watching them sit for so many years on the ramp in Warsaw that no one want's to buy them. Who did they sell them to and why is no one repossessing them?

They were sold to Dniproavia and they are repossessed by PPL who is holding them hostage.

By PPL do you mean Polskie Porty Lotnicze {Polish Airports}?

dcaviation wrote:

They were sold to Dniproavia and they are repossessed by PPL who is holding them hostage.

So Dniproavia bought them but did not make the payments? So how are those their planes then? And Dniproavia, where they not merged into Windrose? So they should be Windrose planes now? Also why would PPL hold them hostage if they are LOT planes? Why is the airport operator involved?

For anyone who is interested. The 737-8M arrived in Poland. Some awesome air to air shots of it. The special livery definitely looks a lot better on the 737 then the 787.

https://www.facebook.com/32755637106478 ... 960817894/

Not really news, but interestingly the LUZ-WAW flight (LO3966) is already getting well booked-up! I’ve just booked the 30th of September and there was only three seats available. Given the “speed” of the equivalent rail or bus route, I’m not surprised.

LOT to lease 789 from NEOS for this month mainly serving EWR & JFK

https://twitter.com/Airlineroute/status ... 2177539072

Saw it already a few times in Warsaw. Be careful not to book business I guess, as those Neos 789s don't seem to have it. Instead they only offer something called Economy Premium, no lie-flat seats.

In Feb 2019 LO will launch KRK-TLV 2x weekly with 737 MAX 8.

LOT signed a codeshare agreement with Air China on the WAW-PEK route. LOT flies this route 3x weekly, Air China up to 4x weekly.

How many weekly flights does LO have to TLV? Seems like they have quite a bit of a presence there. Who knows, maybe soon we'll see BUD-TLV.

Does LO have some problems with the Dreamliners? I'm seeing a lot of cancellations on the WAW - YYZ route.

WildcatYXU wrote:

Does LO have some problems with the Dreamliners? I'm seeing a lot of cancellations on the WAW - YYZ route.

Yep, 2 we’re down due to RR engine issues for a while, and then another one for at least couple of days. So at one point 3 we’re down. One of the RR issue ones just got back in the sky, so now it’s just one down.

Seems they have been mainly killing the second rotation to YYZ on the select days probably because Air Canada Rougue was available to pick up some of the passengers from WAW. All other destinations had cancellations here and there.

LO and TK agreed on increasing frequency on the WAW-IST route.
LO will go from 5x weekly to 12x weekly on E195.
TK will go from 5x to 6x weekly, one of the frequencies could be flown on B777.
Could some closer cooperation (JV?) be in the works?

^^ From W18/19 the Saturday flight will be on an A333.

PS: Huge amount of speculation about TK entering the IST-KRK route as well, which has been rumoured for years.

konkret wrote:

LO and TK agreed on increasing frequency on the WAW-IST route.
LO will go from 5x weekly to 12x weekly on E195.
TK will go from 5x to 6x weekly, one of the frequencies could be flown on B777.
Could some closer cooperation (JV?) be in the works?

Are there any bilaterals in place which were preventing TK from increasing traffic without LO's agreement?

SQ22 wrote:

Are there any bilaterals in place which were preventing TK from increasing traffic without LO's agreement?

Yes. Only those two airlines are designated to operate this route and every increase in capacity has to be mutually agreed to. Was it not for the bilateral TK would probably already be flying to KRK/GDN/WRO/POZ/KTW.

konkret wrote:

SQ22 wrote:

Are there any bilaterals in place which were preventing TK from increasing traffic without LO's agreement?

Yes. Only those two airlines are designated to operate this route and every increase in capacity has to be mutually agreed to. Was it not for the bilateral TK would probably already be flying to KRK/GDN/WRO/POZ/KTW.

Thanks. I tend to agree with you, you just have to see what they are doing in other European countries.