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LOT Polish Airlines, officially Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A., is the national flag carrier of Poland, headquartered in Warsaw. Founded on January 1, 1929, as Linje Lotnicze LOT through the merger of Aerolot and Aero, LOT is one of the world’s oldest airlines still operating under its original name. Operating from its primary hub at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) and a secondary hub at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), LOT serves over 100 destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East as a member of the Star Alliance since 2003. With a fleet of 73 modern aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners, LOT carried approximately 10 million passengers in 2024. Known for its Polish hospitality, innovative services, and sustainability efforts, LOT has earned accolades like the Skytrax 3-Star Airline rating and the IEnvA certification for environmental management in 2024. Its slogan, “Poland, Europe, the World,” reflects its mission to connect Poland and Central-Eastern Europe globally.
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LOT’s journey began in 1929 under Colonel Wacław Makowski, with its first flight from Warsaw to Krakow. The iconic crane logo, designed by Tadeusz Gronowski, has remained unchanged for 95 years. In the 1930s, LOT expanded to Helsinki, Lydda (Israel), and Bucharest, using Douglas DC-2s. Post-World War II, LOT operated Soviet aircraft like the Ilyushin Il-18 (1961) and Il-62 (1972), launching transatlantic routes to Toronto and New York. The 1989 fall of communism shifted LOT to Western aircraft, starting with Boeing 767s, followed by 737s and ATR 72s. Joining Star Alliance in 2003 enhanced global reach. The 2013 introduction of Boeing 787 Dreamliners marked a leap in long-haul efficiency. A 2015 cyberattack disrupted 22 flights, exposing vulnerabilities, but LOT’s 2016 restructuring restored profitability by 2018. The 2020 COVID-19 suspension led to a $365.2 million loss, but LOT rebounded with a $276 million net profit in 2023. In 2024, LOT launched Riyadh flights, earning the Route of the Year award.
LOT operates from Warsaw Chopin Airport, a modern hub handling 18 million passengers annually, and Budapest for select long-haul routes (e.g., Seoul, New York, until March 2025). Its network spans over 100 destinations, including 8 domestic cities (e.g., Gdansk, Wroclaw), 60 European routes (e.g., London, Paris, Milan), and long-haul flights to North America (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles), Asia (Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing), and the Middle East (Riyadh, Dubai). In 2024, LOT launched Tashkent and resumed Astana, with 2,500 weekly flights. Codeshares with Star Alliance partners and non-alliance carriers like TAP Portugal and Asiana Airlines extend its reach to 1,200 destinations. Cargo services, using 787s and 737s, transport 100,000 tonnes annually, focusing on electronics and perishables. LOT’s 2024 on-time performance averaged 82%.