Warszawa 2014-04-15
The history of LOT Polish Airlines. Part 5.
1999 – 2014.
1999 year.
On November 18, 1999, the Minister of the Treasury, Emil Wąsacz, signed agreements for the sale of 25% of shares of PLL LOT to the Swiss holding company SAirGroup, which was the owner of the Swissair company. It was the beginning of the privatization of the Polish carrier. At the same time, PLL LOT concluded a strategic cooperation agreement with SAirGroup and an agreement on joining PLL LOT on 01/01/2000 to the global aviation alliance The Qualiflyer Group. Despite the choice of a foreign investor, LOT Polish Airlines fully retained its identity and Polish character.
The problem was that Swissair was already bankrupt at the time. Emil Wąsacz, while in the Government of Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, was famous for many unsuccessful privatizations, such as: Centrum Department Stores, Telekomunikacja Polska and Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń. In 2006, Emil Wasacz appeared before the State Tribunal. The Court ordered that the evidence be supplemented. The case was still pending in 2014. During the reign of Jerzy Buzek, the Republic of Poland suffered severe losses in the national economy. Jerzy Buzek, while holding high positions in the European Union, effectively protects himself and his colleagues.
In the period 2006-2007, the Polish government managed to buy back the shares of PLL LOT. The purchase of shares by the coalition of PiS, LPR and Samoobrona should be considered a success.
Embraer ERJ 145 Family in PLL LOT.
LOT Polish Airlines decided to purchase Embraer ERJ 145 Family planes. The strengths of the Brazilians were; short order completion time, favorable cost-effect system and better technical parameters in relation to the currently operated ATR 72 machines. The contract between PLL LOT and Embraer was signed in 1999, and 6 aircraft were ordered in accordance with it, with an option for another 6 copies. The purchase of ERJ 145 aircraft by LOT Polish Airlines in the mass media did not cause enthusiasm. On the contrary. This decision was criticized. As it turned out wrongly, and subsequent purchases of aircraft from Embraer are received very positively.
The first ERJ 145 aircraft reached Poland in July 1999, had the number 145155 and received the SP-LGA marks. He made his first commercial flight on August 1, 1999, on the Warsaw-Zurich route. The machine was operated by LOT Polish Airlines until December 2004.
In August 1999, another two ERJ 145 planes were delivered to Poland; SP-LGB (# 145165) and SP-LGC (# 145227). Both machines served in LOT Polish Airlines until October 2005. On June 12, 2000, the Polish side confirmed its willingness to purchase another 3 machines. So a total of 15 pieces. Ultimately, 14 aircraft were purchased. In 2000, the company received as many as 7 new new copies; SP-LGD (# 145244 May 2000 Sold 2010), SP-LGE (# 145285 August 2000 Sold 2010) SP-LGF (# 145308 Sep 2000 Sold 2010) SP -LGG (# 145319 October 2000, sold 2010), SP-LGH (# 145329 October 2000, sold April 2011, last of 14), SP-LGI (# 145336 October 2000, sold October 2006), SP-LGK (# 145339, October 2000, sold October 2006). In March 2001, another 3 copies were delivered; SP-LGL (# 145406, sold May 2008), SP-LGM (# 145408, sold May 2008), SP-LGN (# 145441, also sold May 2008). In April 2002, LOT Polish Airlines received the last 14 copies; SP-LGO No. 145560, sold in 2010.
The plane was named by the cabin crew; pencil or pen. Due to the long and narrow hull. The plane turned out to be safe and almost failure-free. In LOT Polish Airlines, 14 ERJ 145 aircraft flew about 300,000 hours, making about 55,000 take-off-landing operations.
The replacement of these planes with others was due to the transition to planes of greater capacity. Their young age was advantageous in terms of achieving a good resale price. On the other hand, planes would be a good deal as government planes. However, this has not been achieved. According to the agreements concluded with the Brazilian company Embraer in 2004 and in 2007. LOT Polish Airlines gradually phased out Embraer 145 models in favor of larger and more modern Embraer 170 and 175 machines. The decisive factors were better technical parameters of the machines, more seats on board and range. Embraer 145 can carry 48 people, while the EMB 170 can fly 70 people and the EMB 175 – 82 people. On January 1, 2008, LOT Polish Airlines had 9 of these machines in stock.
The last one sold was the SP-LGH. The plane made its farewell flight on April 15, 2011, on the Gdańsk – Warsaw route (LO 3832). Airplane Crew; Captain Sławomir Majcher, 2nd pilot Bartosz Wróbel, flight attendant Ewa Czerwińska and flight attendant Grażyna Kokot. After landing at Okęcie Airport, the plane was greeted with a water salute from two airport guards’ combat vehicles. The crew signed their autographs on the fuselage. This copy served in LOT Polish Airlines for 11 years. It has flown 26,000 hours. However, it turned out that due to a failure of the ATR 72 aircraft, the ERJ 145 SP-LGH aircraft made one more return flight to Riga. According to other sources; Two ERJ 145 planes performed scheduled and charter flights for over a month. This is how Embraer ERJ 145 was said goodbye after 12 years.
2000 year.
At Okęcie, the process of creating an airport as a transit airport, not just a destination one, has started. So the idea of a so-called hub, which in the case of Central and Eastern Europe made sense. New connections to; Zagreb (Croatia), Tallinn (Estonia), Bucharest (Romania), London (UK, Gatwick Airport).
In 2000, PLL LOT received as many as 11 aircraft in one year (8 Embraer ERJ-145 and 3 Boeing 737-500 aircraft). It was the largest aircraft delivery in the company’s history.
2001 year.
In 2001, the number of passengers transported exceeded 3,000,000. Once again, PPL LOT was among the best airlines in the world. He was awarded in the OAG and Business Traveler rankings for the high quality of on-board service, professional service, punctuality and quality of meals. At that time, new connections were launched, incl. down; Odessa (Ukraine), Gothenburg (Sweden), Beirut (Lebanon), Damascus (Syria, the line reopened, for the first time in 1963) and Zielona Góra.
2002 year.
At the meeting of the heads of airlines participating in the Qualiflyer Group alliance, held on February 8, 2002, in Zurich, a decision was made to end cooperation within the alliance. LOT Polish Airlines has begun efforts to join another alliance.
At that time, a regular air connection was launched; Warsaw-Kaliningrad, Russia – 278 km, 173 miles, 150 NM. Warsaw-Bratislava, Slovakia – 533 km, 331 miles, 288 NM. Poznań-Frankfurt, Germania – 891 km, 554 miles, 481 NM.
In April 2002, PLL LOT and Lufthansa signed a preliminary agreement on strategic cooperation and a code-share agreement on the joint operation of air connections between Poland and Germany. These agreements opened the way for the Polish carrier to become a member of the Star Alliance.
In 2002, PLL LOT was again awarded by OAG and Business Traveler.
In July 2002, LOT Polish Airlines and the Italian-French ATR consortium signed a contract for the delivery of 5 ATR-42 500 series aircraft for Eurolot.
In 2002, the President of the Republic of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, opened a new office building of LOT Polish Airlines by cutting the white-and-blue ribbon surrounding the Crane sculpture placed in the atrium. The ceremony was attended by J.E. The Primate of Poland, Cardinal Józef Glemp, who blessed the building.
2003 year.
The Miles & More loyalty program has become a program for frequent travelers of LOT Polish Airlines. Over 8 million participants worldwide joined the program and the program was the largest of its kind in Europe.
LOT Polish Airlines was again recognized by OAG and Business Traveler as the "Best Central and Eastern European Airline".
On October 26, 2003, PLL LOT became a member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of airlines, whose members set the highest level of standards in world aviation. Due to the accession of PLL LOT to Star Alliance, the Boeing 737-500 SP-LKE aircraft received a new, promotional painting. At that time, further code-share agreements were signed with United, Bmi, Aeroflot and All Nippon Airways.
Embraer 170 in PLL LOT. 2004 year.
LOT Polish Airlines and Brazilian Embraer plants signed a contract in Paris for the delivery of 70-seat Embraer 170 aircraft. The first Embraer 170 in ST configuration was delivered to Poland at Okęcie on the night of March 8/9, 2004. The machine received SP-LDA registration, serial number 23. Embraer 170 SP-LDA LOT Polish Airlines made its first commercial flight – on the Warsaw (WAW) – Vienna (VIE) route. Flight number LO 225, on March 20, 2004.
Also in March 2004, another Embraer 170 arrived in Poland. SP-LDB registration, ST configuration, serial number 24. In April 2004, two more planes landed at Okęcie. First SP-LDC, ST configuration, serial number 25. The machine received a Star Alliance paint job. In 2010, she received a new beautiful painting promoting Krakow and Lesser Poland. The second was SP-LDD, ST configuration, serial number 27.
In June 2004, two more arrived; SP-LDE serial number 29 and SP-LDF serial number 35. In March 2005, two more planes arrived in Poland. This time in a new LR configuration. They were; Embraer 170 LR SP-LDG serial number 65 and Embraer 170 LR SP-LGH serial number 69. In April 2005, another one was received; Embraer 170 ST registration SP-LDI serial number 73, and in May 2005; Embraer 170 LR registration SP-LDK serial number 74, received the Star Alliance paint. In this way, PLL LOT became the owner of 10 Embraer 170 planes. The planes had a typical PLL LOT painting, with the exception of the machines; SP-LDC and SP-LDK. In 2007, the Embraer 170 SP-LDE airplane was demonstrated to the public at the Air Show 2007 in Radom.
Embraer 175 in PLL LOT. 2006 year.
From April 2006 to September 2010, LOT Polish Airlines received 14 Embraer 175 machines. They received registrations from SP-LIA to SP-LIO. Their configurations are; SD, SR, LR.
After the 2010 Smolensk attack, two Embraer 175 planes; SP-LIG, SP-LIH, were transferred to transport important people in the state as government planes.
Embraer 195 in Polsce.
The first largest aircraft from the Embraer family has joined the LOT Polish Airlines fleet. It is an Embraer 195 previously designated Embraer 190-200. Embraer 195 is a medium-range aircraft (2,600 km) with a maximum cruising speed of 890 km / h, a fuselage length of 38.65 m and a wingspan of 28.72 m. There are 112 passenger seats on board. PLL LOT has ordered 4 machines of this type. The aircraft is equipped with two turbojet fan engines (General Electric CF34-10E), which allow it to achieve a maximum cruising speed of 890 km / h. The Embraer 195 SP-LNA aircraft made its first flight on February 2, 2011, in Brazil, and then underwent a series of factory tests. He was temporarily registered as PT-TBM and flew to the Republic of Poland with such registration. The Embraer 195 plane arrived in Warsaw on April 11, 2011, at 12:00 p.m. Before landing, the crew made a low pass over the RWY. The plane was greeted with a water salute from two fire fighting vehicles. In the LOT Polish Airlines fleet, it is the 24th Embraer 170/175/195 family purchased and delivered to Poland. The fleet consists of 10 E-170s and 14 E-175s. At that moment, there were still 5 Embraer 145 aircraft in the stock of PLL LOT, which were already put up for sale and made the last flights. The new plane found its way to the PLL LOT network in Europe. He made his first flight to Brussels as flight LO 231 on April 15, 2011.
The second Embraer 195. On June 24, 2011, around 4:00 p.m., the second new PLL LOT Embraer 195 aircraft No. 19000441 landed at Okęcie, registration SP-LNB. The flight was marked LO 9002. But the arrival of Embraer 195 was overshadowed by the simultaneous first visit of the commercial Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The E.195 plane initially had a typical PLL LOT painting. Due to the assumption by Poland of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, SP-LNB received a special painting advertising Poland. Graphics with the advertising slogan "MOVE YOUR IMAGINATION" was placed on a total area of 84.8 square meters. The Ił-14 P plane once carried the SP-LNB registration in PLL LOT.
The third Embraer 195. On Sunday, August 28, 2011, around 6:00 p.m., the third Embraer 195 aircraft in the colors of LOT Polish Airlines landed at Okęcie. The machine flew on the cruise LO 9002. To reach Warsaw, Embraer 195 set off from the manufacturer’s factory in São José dos Campos, Brazil, to Recife (Brazil). The next stage of the trip was a flight to Amilcar Cabral on the island of Sal in Cape Verde. Later, the machine went to Malaga, from where it flew to the Okęcie Airport. The plane has been given SP-LNC marks and has traditional paintwork.
In 2012, the fourth Embraer 195, SP-LND registration, was expected to arrive. The serial number of the fourth Embraer E-195LR (E-190-200LR) for LOT Polish Airlines is 19000516. The assembly of the aircraft began in October 2011. Its completion was planned for February 2012. According to official statements by the management of PLL LOT, the fourth Embraer 195 will not be the last aircraft of this type in PLL LOT, because these planes are also to replace the currently (2012) operated Boeing 737-400 / -500 aircraft, the leasing of which will end in 2015. It is possible because LOT Polish Airlines does not need more than 130 passenger seats on European lines.Piaty Embraer 195. On November 30, 2012, at 18; 30, another Embraer 195 (190-200LR) No. 19000583 SP-LNE landed at Okęcie Airport. The plane made stopovers in Recife, Brazil and Tenerife. The aircraft is the 27th Brazilian machine in the LOT Polish Airlines fleet (Embraer 170, 175, 195). The plane made its first commercial flight on December 5, 2012, to Brussels.
The sixth Embraer 195. The aircraft was built in January 2013. Delivered to Poland on February 25, 2013. Embraer 195LR (190-200LR) No.19000596, CY112 SP-LNF configuration, 2 x GE CF34-10E5 engines.
2004 year.
In 2004, a low-cost company Centralwings was established at PLL LOT (IATA line code: C0 / ICAO line code: CLW). The premiere flight of the Centralwings airline took place on February 1, 2005, on the Warsaw-London route. Already in September 2005, the lines handled half a million passengers.
LOT Polish Airlines has started selling etix electronic tickets on domestic routes. At that time, code-share agreements were signed with Air Canada and TAP Portugal. Business Traveler recognized LOT Polish Airlines as the best carrier in the region for the seventh time in a row. Over 4,000,000 passengers have used the services of LOT Polish Airlines. At the same time, new connections to; Warsaw-Dublin, Ireland – 1,829 km, 1,137 miles, 988 NM. Warsaw-Venice – 987 km, 613 miles, 533 NM.
2005 year.
Business Traveler recognized LOT Polish Airlines as the best carrier in Central and Eastern Europe for the eighth time in a row.
The decision was made to choose a new long-range aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. At the same time, they were the first planes in Europe and second only to Japan in the world. On September 7, 2005, the Supervisory Board of PLL LOT S.A. adopted a resolution on the consent to conclude a contract for the purchase of 7 Boeing B-787 Dreamliner aircraft.
On May 31, 2005, the CEOs of PLL LOT and All Nippon Airways in Kwoto signed a code-share agreement between the carriers.
On October 30, 2005, an agreement on joint connections was signed between PLL LOT S.A. and Singapore Airlines, thanks to which customers of both airlines could conveniently travel on routes between Southeast Asia and Poland.
Air connections have been launched; Warsaw-Liubliana, Slovenia – 834 km, 516 miles, 451 NM. Warszawa-Zielona Góra – a line operated on behalf of PLL LOT with Jetsream 32 planes, from November 28, 2005.
2006 year.
Interline electronic teceting agreement with British Airways was concluded.
In mid-July 2006, PLL LOT began a series of charter flights on the Tokyo-Warsaw-Tokyo route, commissioned by the Japanese company The Contact Inc.
On October 4, 2006, LOT Polish Airlines received the award and the title of "IT Leader" for the first time in a competition organized by the "Computerworld" weekly, for achievements in the use of information technologies.
In 2006, LOT Polish Airlines transported 3,708,239 people.
2007 year.
An agreement was signed with the Ukrainian airline Dniproavia for the maintenance of Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft, which were soon withdrawn.
On September 17, 2007, in London, LOT Polish Airlines representatives once again received the prestigious Business Traveler award for the "Best Airline in Eastern Europe".
On May 7, 2007, PLL LOT launched connections; from Katowice to Turin and from Warsaw to Stuttgart. On June 3, 2007, LOT Polish Airlines launched a connection from Rzeszów to New York. Cruises have also started; Wroclaw-Brussels.
2008 year.
In February 2008, online passenger check-in was launched: Web Chec-In for passengers whose journeys begin at domestic airports operated by LOT. An agreement was signed with the Luxembourg airline Luxair for the joint operation of connections on the Warsaw-Berlin-Luxembourg route. On September 22, 2008, the prestigious British magazine Business Traveler honored LOT Polish Airlines with the title of "Best Eastern European Airline" for the 11th time. On September 30, 2008, professor Ryszard Kaczorowski, former President of the Republic of Poland, was awarded the honorary badge "Meritorious for PLL LOT S.A.".
Cruises have started; Warsaw-Beijing, China (March 30, 2008).
2009 year.
On June 9, 2008, a subsidiary of PLL LOT, Centralwings, went bankrupt. In May 2008, a subsidiary company, LOT Charters, was established. The first commercial flight was made on June 1, 2009.
On September 21, 2009, LOT Polish Airlines was awarded the title of the Best Eastern European Airline for the twelfth time by the British Business Traveler magazine. And on December 2, 2009, it was awarded the title of the best airline in Eastern Europe in the poll of the Globar Traveler magazine.
On November 8, 2009, PLL LOT in cooperation with the Canadian Cargojet airline launched the first direct transatlantic cargo connection in the history of Polish aviation. Boeing 767-200 ER Freighter, which can hold up to 45 tons of goods, made flights on the route Katowice – Hamilton (Canada) – Katowice once a week.
Connections started; Krakow-Athens, Greece (April 16, 2009). Warsaw-Belgrade – Re-connection after 15 years on May 8, 2009. Krakow-Rome, Italy.
2010 year.
On July 13, 2010, the Technical Base was separated from the structures of PLL LOT, which becomes a company called LOT Airctraft Maitenance Services (LOT AMS).
Connections started; Warsaw-Tallinn (on May 10, 2010). Warsaw-Beirut (on 16..06.2010. Return after a few years). Warsaw-Kaliningrad (on June 28, 2010. Return after 5 years). Warsaw-Yerevan, Armenia – 2,236 km, 1,390 miles, 1,208 NM. (new connection). Warsaw-Tbilisi, Georgia – 2,141 km, 1,330 miles, 1,156 NM. (September 15, 2010, new connection). Warsaw-Damascus, Turkey – (October 2, 2010). Warsaw-Cairo, Egypt – return after many years. October 27, 2010. Warsaw-Hanoi, Vietnam – 7,839 km, 4,871 miles, 4,233 NM. November 13, 2010. Warsaw-Bydgoszcz – again. November 26, 2010.
2011 year.
On January 17, 2011, PLL LOT once again receives the award in the "Best Line in Eastern Europe" category by the readers of the "Globar Traveler" magazine. In May 2011, PLL LOT introduced the so-called "WEB Kiosks" – self-service devices enabling self-check-in of passengers.
New painting pattern in LOT Polish Airlines.
In 2011, a new painting pattern for the national carrier’s airplanes was developed and approved for implementation. The new image was designed by Mr. Jacek Bonczek. Some may like it, others may not. We have mixed feelings. The navy blue belt had disappeared from the hull. The inscription remained unchanged. The biggest changes took place on the vertical tail. The crane is now white on a navy blue background. It was the other way around. The rest of the tail is still navy blue. National colors went to the base of the tail. They have lost their rectangular form and do not really indicate their Polish character. Someone who does not know the Republic of Poland will not see the symbols of Poland.
B 787-8 Dreamliner in Warsaw.
On June 24, 2011, (Friday) at 10.12am, the prototype B 787-8 airplane, number ZA001, landed in Poland for the first time in Poland. Before landing, the B 787 made a low flight over the airport, presenting itself to the audience. Viewers could see for themselves that the plane is definitely quieter than other machines. The plane flew in straight from the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. The purpose of the visit was to present the plane in Poland.
Connection started; Warsaw-Donetsk, Ukraine – June 3, 2011.
De Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 in EuroLOT / PLL LOT. 2012 year.
In February 2012, EuroLOT officially announced the purchase of Bombardier Q400 aircraft in a configuration with 78 seats by EuroLOT. A total of 8 aircraft were ordered. The first aircraft with registration numbers SP-EQA arrived on May 17, 2012 at Okęcie Airport. The plane bears the exact designation De Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 – 4406. The plane flew to Poland in stages; Toronto – Goose Bay – Keflaviku – Menchester – Okęcie. It landed at Okęcie Airport on May 17, 2012.
After the first scheduled flights, the passengers’ feelings were positive. Passengers subjectively assessed the Bombardier Q 400 to be quieter than the ATR 42/72. One of the first lines operated by Bombardier Q 400 was the Goleniów – Okęcie route. The flights were inaugurated on June 1, 2012. The travel time on this route has been reduced from 1 hour 25 minutes to 55 minutes. A few days later (May 25, 2012) another (second) Bombardier Q 400 aircraft No. 4407, registration SP-EQB, landed at Okęcie. The remaining 6 planes have already arrived in Poland. Received registrations; SP-EQC, SP-EQD, SP-EQE, SP-EQF, SP-EQG, SP-EQH.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner in PLL LOT.
In 2006, a contract was signed for the acquisition of 8 B 787-8 machines, with the possibility of extending the order by another 6 machines in the B 787-8 / -9 versions. There are three classes of planes ordered by LOT Polish Airlines; premium 18-seater (with fully reclining seats), premium economy 21-seats (reclining), economy class with 213 seats. Total 252 places. The cost of purchasing one copy is a trade secret, but this sum has certainly approached $ 200 million. As in the case of B 767 planes, LOT Polish Airlines B 787 planes will be leased. The assembly of the first B 787 intended for LOT Polish Airlines started in April 2012.
On October 18, 2012, the first B 787-8 No. 61 aircraft belonging to PLL LOT with temporary N1026G registration was flown. The machine took off from Paine Field in Everett. She spent 2 hours and 13 minutes in the air and landed at Grant County International Airport. After a few minutes of stopping, the Dreamliner took off on the return flight.
On November 15, 2012 (Thursday), PLL LOT became the first European owner of B 787 aircraft and one of the first in the world. It became the holder of the B 787 in the same year as the world’s first user, the Japanese ANA. On November 14, 2012 (Wednesday) at 4:00 p.m. the plane took off from Everett from Paine Field Airport. In Poland it was then 1:00 am the next day. The flight received the code no. LOT9787 and this is how we could observe it on the website of flightradar24.
In January 2013, all B 787s were grounded due to a battery failure. After the technical problems were positively resolved, in April 2013 the planes resumed flights. Also in 2013, another four Boeing 787 machines were delivered:
Second B 787-85D No. 78/37894 registration SP-LRB. Delivered on December 21, 2012 to Warsaw. The machine with registration numbers SP-LRB took off on Friday at 5:40 Polish time from the Paine Field airport in the USA. It landed at around 15:30 in the Warsaw Okęcie. Flown on December 1, 2012.
Third B 787-85D No. 86/35940 registration SP-LRC. Delivered on 17/05/2013. On Wednesday (May 15, 2013) LOT Polish Airlines picked up the third B787 Dreamliner. On May 17, 2013, in the morning, the plane departed from the factory in Everett. The cruise was marked as LO9787. In Poland, the machine landed around 4:30 pm. The first commercial flight took place on 03/25/2013, immediately with new batteries. The machine was used to test new batteries.
Fourth B 787-85D No. 87/35941 registration SP-LRD. Delivered on June 22, 2013. First flight on June 4, 2013, delivery flight on June 21-22, 2013.
Fifth B 787-85D No.88 / 35939 registration SP-LRE. Delivered on 30/07/2013. First flight on July 15, 2013. Reception in the USA on July 29, 2013. At 20:40 Polish time, the plane departed from the factory in Everett. The cruise was marked as LO9787. In Poland, the machine landed on July 30, 2013 around 5:30.Another plane arrived in the Republic of Poland in April 2014.
The first Boeing B 777 operated by LOT Polish Airlines. 2013 year.
Unexpected problems with the operation of B 787 planes and the consequent grounding of all such machines by the FAA led to even greater problems for our national carrier, LOT Polish Airlines. LOT Polish Airlines tried to save, although it leased three planes in addition to the Atlantic flights; A 330, B 767, and B 777.
From April 25, 2013, LOT Polish Airlines has been selling tickets for the Warsaw-Toronto flight from May 4, 2013. The offer was very attractive, because the price of the ticket for the return flight is PLN 1,777. The advertising materials presented – "Boeing 777 for PLN 1,777". This price was for flights on the B 777 in the period from May 4, 2013 to June 7, 2013. Leasing Boeing 777 guaranteed the performance of all scheduled flights until the return of the Boeing 787 aircraft.
The B 777 airplane was rented together with the cabin crew and the deck crew, which were supplemented by Polish flight attendants. It was about providing the possibility of contact in Polish, at the same time ensuring perfect knowledge of the inside of the machine. The aircraft has a CS-TFM registration. It has 30 seats in business class and 293 in economy class. The aircraft was built as the B 777-212ER under registration No. 28 513/144 in June 1998 and delivered to Singapore Airlines on June 18, 1998, under registration 9V-SRA. After more than 10 years of operation, on January 12, 2010, the plane was taken over by Euro Atlantic Airways, which gave it CS-TFM registration. The plane is currently owned (July 2013) by Euro Atlantic Airways (CS-TFM), although it has already flown on the services of three other airlines; In the period from January 14, 2010 to March 10, 2011. in Biman Bangladesh lines. In the period from September 18, 2011 to March 23, 2012. with Air Madagascar. And most recently, on May 4, 2013 – June 7, 2013. in LOT Polish Airlines. Euro Atlantic Airways is a Portuguese airline charter based in Sintra. The airline has extensive experience in Atlantic flights.
The first Airbus A 330 operated by LOT Polish Airlines. 2013 year.
On March 28, 2013, a press release was released that LOT Polish Airlines will rent the A 330-200 plane for one and a half months. The first flight took place on April 12, 2013, on the Warsaw-Chicago race. From mid-April 2013 to the end of May 2013, some flights from Warsaw to Chicago and New York were carried out by the 306-seat Airbus A330. It was the first A 330 used by LOT Polish Airlines. The plane was rented from Hi Fly. Hi Fly is a Portuguese company that specializes in aircraft leasing. It is based in Lisbon. Its fleet consists of 10 Airbuses; 2 A310, 3 A330-200, 1 A330-300, 2 A340-300 and 2 A340-500. The Airbus A330-243 registration CS-TFZ was built in March 2009. He made his first flight on March 24, 2009. The plane was borrowed with the crew. Cabin crew was mixed; Portuguese-Polish. The machine has 18 seats in business class and 288 in economy class. The plane served the Warsaw-Chicago and Warsaw-New York routes. The A 330-200 CS-TFZ plane flew in the network of PLL LOT connections until June 7, 2013, almost two months, until the B 787 returned to the route.
2014 year.
The Polish carrier PLL LOT, since the summer flight schedule, in force since March 31, 2014, has eliminated foreign flights from all domestic ports except Warsaw. This is the result of the decision of the European Commission, which made the consent for state aid to LOT conditional on such decisions. Flights from Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław to Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich will be abolished, and in the case of Kraków, also to Rome, Tel Aviv and Vienna.
The cancellation of flights is very good news for the rivals of the Polish carrier, led by Lufthansa, the German partner from the Star Alliance. Especially that in March or April 2014, a new airport in Berlin, under construction in Brandenburg, south of the German capital, was finally to be opened. It is an attractive alternative to Warsaw, especially for passengers from western Poland.
At the same time, LOT Polish Airlines announced the launch of the second wave of afternoon departures from Warsaw in the new schedule. It will cover ports in Central and Eastern Europe: in Budapest, Prague, Sofia, Bucharest, Belgrade, Moscow, Lviv, Odessa, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. There will also be new flights to Copenhagen, Milan, Stockholm and Brussels, and more frequent flights to Paris, Hamburg and Amsterdam. From May to September 2014, PLL LOT planned additional southern connections to Chicago, New York and Toronto.
Data PLL LOT.
Address: ul. 17 Stycznia 39. 00-906 Warsaw. Telephone: (22) 606 65 65. Fax: (22) 606 65 44. Company e-mail address: lot@lot.pl. Official website: www.lot.com.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman