LOT Polish Airlines
Poland · POLLOT · Active
Airline Identity
History
LOT Polish Airlines was established on 29 December 1928 by the Polish government through the merger of two existing domestic carriers, Aerolot and Aero, and commenced scheduled operations on 1 January 1929, making it one of the oldest airlines in the world still flying under its original name. Operations were suspended during World War II, and the airline resumed as a state-owned enterprise in 1945, later becoming a symbol of Polish civil aviation throughout the Communist era and beyond. LOT modernized significantly following Poland's transition to a market economy, and in October 2003 it became the 14th member of Star Alliance. A planned privatization and potential stake sale to Turkish Airlines was explored around 2012 but ultimately failed due to EU ownership restrictions on non-European carriers, leaving LOT under continued state control. The airline remains wholly owned by Polish Aviation Group (PGL), a state-controlled holding company, and has pursued steady fleet renewal and long-haul network expansion from its Warsaw hub through the 2010s and 2020s.
Current Operations
LOT Polish Airlines operates a fleet of roughly 90 aircraft, spanning Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul routes, Boeing 737 MAX and Embraer E-Jets for medium- and short-haul flying, and Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops on regional routes, with 40 Airbus A220s on order for delivery starting 2027. The carrier's operations are centered on its hub at Warsaw Chopin Airport, from which it serves around 100 destinations across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. As a Star Alliance member since 2003, LOT offers extensive interline and codeshare connectivity through its global partner network. The airline set a monthly passenger record of roughly 1.18 million travelers in July 2025 and was ranked the best airline in Eastern Europe by Skytrax in 2025, reflecting continued growth, though it ended long-haul service to Budapest in February 2025 as part of network optimization. LOT remains Poland's flag carrier and a fast-growing mid-sized player in the European long-haul and regional market.
Last verified 2026-08-22· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.