LOT Polish Airlines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
LOT Polish Airlines
Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A.

A LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-9
Founded	29 December 1928; 96 years ago (1928-12-29)
Commenced operations	1 January 1929; 96 years ago (1929-01-01)
Hubs	Warsaw–Chopin
Secondary hubs	Katowice Kraków
Focus cities	Katowice Kraków Wrocław
Frequent-flyer program	Miles & More
Alliance	Star Alliance
Subsidiaries	LOT Charters LOT Cargo
Fleet size	86
Destinations	97
Parent company	Polish Aviation Group
Headquarters	Warsaw, Poland
Key people	Michał Fijoł (CEO)
Revenue	US$2.495 billion (2024)
Operating income	US$202.472 million (2024)
Net income	US$173.020 million (2024)
Total equity	US$286.985 million (2024)
Employees	10,700 (2024)

LOT Polish Airlines is the national airline of Poland. It is one of the oldest airlines in the world. LOT was started on December 29, 1928, by the Polish government. It took over two smaller airlines, Aerolot and Aero. LOT officially began flying on January 1, 1929.

As of June 2025, LOT has a fleet of 87 airplanes. It is Europe's 16th largest airline. It flies to 97 places in Europe, Asia, and North America. In the 1930s, LOT grew its routes and fleet. It moved its main operations to the new Warsaw Okęcie Airport in 1934.

When World War II started in 1939, LOT stopped its flights. Most of its planes were moved to other countries. After the war, LOT started again in 1945. It mainly used Soviet-made planes because Poland became a communist country. LOT began flying across the Atlantic Ocean in the early 1970s.

After communism ended in Poland in 1989, LOT started using Western-made planes like the Boeing 767. The airline joined the Star Alliance in 2003. In 2012, LOT was the first European airline to use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Most of LOT's flights start from its main base at Warsaw Chopin Airport.

History of LOT Polish Airlines

Early Years Before World War II

A three-engine Fokker F.VIIB-3m plane, registration SP-ABC, used for the Warsaw-Bucharest route.

When LOT was founded in 1928, the Polish government owned most of its shares. In the early 1930s, LOT added new flights to cities like Bydgoszcz and Katowice. In 1931, LOT chose its famous "Flying Crane" logo. This logo was designed by Tadeusz Gronowski and is still used today.

The first LOT logo from 1929, designed by Tadeusz Gronowski.

LOT started its first international flight in 1931, flying from Warsaw to Bucharest. In the following years, it added flights to Berlin, Athens, Helsinki, and Budapest. By 1939, LOT's network covered over 10,250 kilometers. The airline added new planes like the Douglas DC-2 and Lockheed Electra to its fleet.

In 1934, LOT moved its main offices and workshops to the new Warsaw Okęcie Airport. This was a big improvement from its old base. In 1938, LOT successfully completed a test flight from Los Angeles to Warsaw. This flight explored the idea of having regular passenger service between Poland and the United States.

Passengers leaving a LOT Douglas DC-2 plane before World War II.

LOT had carried 218,000 passengers before flights stopped on September 1, 1939, due to World War II. Most of LOT's planes were moved to other countries to keep them safe. During the war, LOT's operations were paused.

LOT During the Communist Era

A LOT Ilyushin Il-18 landing at Rome Ciampino Airport in 1977.

After World War II, the Polish government restarted LOT in March 1945. LOT mainly used planes made in the Soviet Union. This was because Poland became a communist country and was part of the Warsaw Pact. In 1946, LOT received Soviet-built planes and some Douglas C-47s. Domestic and international flights began again that year. Flights to Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, and Prague were among the first.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, LOT bought a few Western planes like the Convair 240 and Vickers Viscount. However, after that, the airline's fleet became only Soviet-made planes again. In 1961, LOT introduced Ilyushin Il-18 planes. This allowed the airline to start flights to Africa and the Middle East.

A LOT Tupolev Tu-134 approaching Frankfurt Airport in 1974.

In 1968, LOT started using its first jet planes, the Tupolev Tu-134. These were used for flights within Europe. The Ilyushin Il-62 long-range jet allowed LOT to start its first flights across the Atlantic Ocean. These flights went to Toronto in 1972 and New York City in 1973. In 1977, LOT began flying to Bangkok in the Far East.

A LOT Ilyushin Il-62 at Heathrow Airport in 1984.

In 1977, LOT introduced its current airplane design, called a livery. It has a large 'LOT' written in blue on the front of the plane and a blue tail. Even with some small changes over the years, the original "Flying Crane" logo from 1929 is still used today.

In 1981, flights in Poland almost stopped due to political problems. Many Western airlines also stopped flying to Warsaw. All LOT flights were suspended. Flights to New York and Chicago started again in 1984. Regular flights were fully restored in 1985. LOT added Tupolev Tu-154 planes for European and Middle East routes.

LOT After 1989

After communism ended in Poland in 1989, LOT began using Western-made planes again. It bought Boeing 767-200 in 1989 and Boeing 767-300 in 1990. These planes were used for long-distance flights. From the mid-1980s to early 1990s, LOT flew from Warsaw to several cities in North America. These routes helped serve the large Polish communities there.

LOT was one of the first airlines in Central Europe to use American planes like the Boeing 767. These planes allowed LOT to fly its longest route ever, to Singapore. By the end of 1989, LOT carried 2.3 million passengers in one year.

A Boeing 767-200 arriving at Zurich Airport in 1997.

In 1990, LOT added more Boeing 737 and ATR 72 planes. It also started new international flights to cities like Kyiv and Minsk. In 1993, LOT expanded its flights to Western Europe, adding routes to Oslo, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf.

In 1994, LOT made an agreement with American Airlines to share flights. This helped passengers connect easily between the two airlines. An airline report said that in 1994, LOT had the newest fleet of planes in the world. In 1997, LOT created a sister airline called EuroLOT. This airline handled domestic flights and helped increase the number of passengers flying through Warsaw's Chopin Airport.

LOT became the eleventh full member of the Star Alliance in 2003. This Boeing 737-500 has the alliance's special design (2009).

In 1999, LOT bought smaller Embraer 145 jets for shorter flights. On October 26, 2003, LOT became the 14th member of the Star Alliance, a group of airlines that work together. By 2006, a new, larger base opened at Warsaw Chopin Airport. This helped LOT become a major airline for connecting flights in Central and Eastern Europe.

LOT also tried to create a low-cost airline called Centralwings in 2004. However, it was closed after five years because it was not making money.

LOT from 2008 to 2019

The economy class cabin of a LOT Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

In 2008, LOT started a new flight to Beijing, but it only lasted one month. This was because the flight path was too long and not profitable. In 2010, LOT added new flights to cities like Yerevan and Beirut. It also started flying to Asia again with three weekly flights to Hanoi.

LOT celebrated its 80th birthday in 2009. One of its Boeing 737-400 planes was painted gold for the event.

In 2010, LOT stopped flights between Kraków and Chicago/New York due to low demand. The planes from these routes were then used for the Warsaw-Hanoi flight. In 2011, LOT announced plans to add more destinations like Tokyo and resume Beijing flights. This became possible after Poland and Russia agreed on flight permits over Siberia. LOT began flights to Tokyo on January 13, 2016.

A LOT Boeing 767-300ER with the Star Alliance design.

LOT introduced a new "East meets West" plan to add more Asian destinations. This plan aimed to use LOT's position as a connecting airline. LOT also added a "premium economy" class and lie-flat seats in business class on its Boeing 787 planes.

A LOT Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport (2019).

In 2012, LOT moved all its New York flights to JFK Terminal 1. It also partnered with JetBlue to offer more connecting flights. In 2015, LOT faced a computer attack that affected 22 flights. The airline said it was using advanced systems, so this could be a threat to other airlines too.

In 2018, two new planes (this Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and a 737 MAX-8) were painted to celebrate Poland's independence.

In 2016, LOT confirmed it would lease six Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes. It also planned to add more Boeing 787 planes, bringing the total to 16. In 2018, LOT started scheduled flights from outside Poland, including long-haul routes from Budapest airport to New York and Chicago. In 2019, it started flights from Vilnius to London City airport.

A LOT Embraer 190 leaving Rome Fiumicino Airport.

In December 2018, LOT was ranked the quietest among 50 airlines flying to Heathrow Airport in London. This was due to its modern Boeing 737 MAX-8 planes and its pilots' precise landing techniques.

Recent Events

In January 2020, the owner of LOT, the Polish Aviation Group, announced it would buy Condor Flugdienst. However, this deal did not happen in April 2020.

LOT temporarily stopped flights on March 15, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic flights in Poland restarted on June 1, 2020, and international flights slowly resumed from July 1, 2020. The airline reported a loss in 2020. However, LOT made a profit in 2022 and 2023.

In February 2025, LOT announced it would stop its long-haul flights from Budapest, Hungary, by March 2025. This means all its long-haul flights now start from Polish airports.

How LOT is Organized

Ownership of LOT

LOT's main office in Warsaw.

Currently, LOT Polish Airlines is fully owned by the Polish Aviation Group. This is a company owned by the Polish government.

LOT was planned to be sold to private owners in 2011. Talks were held with Turkish Airlines, but the deal did not happen. This was mainly because Turkish Airlines, not being an European Union company, could not own most of the airline. LOT returned to making a profit in 2016.

Other Companies Under LOT

LOT has a few other companies that work with it:

• LOT Charters - This company operates special flights for Polish travel companies.
• LOT Flight Academy - This is a school for training pilots.

Some companies that used to be part of LOT include:

• Nordica - LOT owned a part of this airline between 2016 and 2020.
• EuroLOT - This airline was fully owned by LOT and handled domestic flights. It was closed in 2015, and most of its planes joined LOT's fleet.
• Centralwings - This was a low-cost airline that existed from 2004 to 2009.

Where LOT Flies

LOT Polish Airlines flies to many places in Europe. It also has flights to Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

Airlines LOT Works With

LOT Polish Airlines has agreements with other airlines to share flights. This is called a codeshare agreement. It means you can book a flight with LOT, but part of your journey might be on another airline's plane.

• Aegean Airlines
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air India
• airBaltic
• All Nippon Airways
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• EgyptAir
• El Al
• EVA Air
• ITA Airways
• JetBlue
• Lufthansa
• Luxair
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Swiss International Air Lines
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines

LOT's Airplanes

Current Airplanes

As of June 2025, LOT Polish Airlines uses these airplanes:

Past Airplanes LOT Used

New Planes for LOT

• In 2005, LOT agreed to get up to 14 Boeing 787s for its long-distance flights.
• In 2010, LOT changed some orders for Embraer E175 planes to Embraer E195 planes.
• Since 2010, LOT has used two Embraer E175 planes for the Polish Ministry of National Defence. These planes carry government officials on short and medium flights.
• In 2016, LOT signed a contract to lease eleven Boeing 737 MAX-8 planes.
• In April 2018, LOT announced it would lease three more Boeing 787-9 planes.
• In May 2024, LOT announced it would lease three new Embraer E-195 E2 jets. The first one arrived in July 2024.
• In March 2025, it was announced that LOT will lease two more Boeing 787-8s starting in 2026. This will bring LOT's 787 fleet to 17 planes.
• In June 2025, LOT ordered 40 Airbus A220s to replace its older Embraer E-Jet planes. Deliveries are set to begin in 2027.

LOT's Look and Design

When LOT received its new Boeing 787 planes between 2011 and 2012, it introduced a new design for its planes, called a livery. This new design kept the traditional look of LOT. The blue nose and wide blue stripe were removed. The words 'POLSKIE LINIE LOTNICZE' on the side of the plane were changed to 'POLISH AIRLINES'. The tail design was changed slightly, with the colors of the crane logo being swapped.

Some Embraer planes have special advertising designs. One Embraer E175, SP-LIM, was painted to look like LOT's 1945 planes for the airline's 90th birthday.

Old Livery Designs

From 1935 to 1939 and 1945 to 1956, LOT planes were mostly shiny silver. They had a black crane logo on the tail and a small black writing that said "POLSKIE LINIE LOTNICZE „LOT"". After World War II, the Polish flag was added to the tail.

From 1956 to 1976, planes had a wide blue stripe along the windows. The top part of the plane was white, and the bottom was unpainted. The tail was blue with a larger Polish flag and a white circle with the crane logo.

Current Livery Design (Since 1977)

LOT's well-known livery was introduced in 1977 and has not changed much. The planes are mostly white with a dark blue area under the cockpit windows. There is a long blue stripe along the side of the plane and the large crane logo on the tail.

Special Plane Designs

Some LOT planes have special designs or stickers:

• SP-LVD, Boeing 737 MAX-8, "Proud of Poland's Independence"
• SP-LVG, Boeing 737 MAX-8, Bank Pekao
• SP-LVK, Boeing 737 MAX-8, "100 Years Krosno Glass"
• SP-LVL, Boeing 737 MAX-8, Energylandia
• SP-LRG, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, ""Cichociemni" Silent and Unseen Home Army Parachutists"
• SP-LSC, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, "Proud of Poland's Independence"
• SP-LDK, Embraer E170, Star Alliance
• SP-LIC, Embraer E175, "Lubuskie"
• SP-LIO, Embraer E175, Star Alliance
• SP-LNB, Embraer E195, Grześki
• SP-LNC, Embraer E195, Śliwka Nałęczowska
• SP-LNF, Embraer E195, Warmia Mazury
• SP-LNG, Embraer E195, "Visit North Moravia"
• SP-LNI, Embraer E195, "Visit North Moravia"

Plane Names

Older Ilyushin Il-62 planes were named after famous Poles. The first one was named Mikołaj Kopernik. The five Boeing 767s LOT ordered were named after Polish cities. This practice stopped with the arrival of Boeing 787s. Only LOT's sixth 787, SP-LRF, was named 'Franek' after an online vote.

Images for kids

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  A LOT Lisunov Li-2 in the 1960s livery.

• 

  A LOT Ilyushin IL-18 in the pre-1977 livery.

• 

  A LOT Embraer 170 in the post-1977 livery.

• 

  A LOT Embraer 170 in the current, post-2011 livery.

Loyalty Program and Lounges

Miles & More Program

LOT uses the Miles & More program for frequent flyers. Members can earn miles when they fly with LOT or its Star Alliance partners. They can also earn miles with LOT credit cards or by buying things from LOT shops. Your membership level depends on how many miles you fly in a year. Levels include Basic, Frequent Traveller (Silver), Senator (Gold), and HON Circle (Black). Higher levels offer more benefits like lounge access.

Polonez Lounge

LOT operates the 'Polonez' Business Lounge at Warsaw Chopin Airport. Passengers with a business class ticket for LOT or any Star Alliance airline can use this lounge. Members of certain loyalty programs can also enter. The lounge offers business facilities, internet, workspaces, and newspapers. LOT also opened a Polonez Lounge at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport in 2018.

Elite Lounge

The Elite Lounge is a special area inside the Polonez Business Lounge. It is a quiet place where passengers can work or relax comfortably. It offers a calm zone, a work area, and better food and drinks.

Mazurek Lounge

This is another business lounge that offers great views of the airport's apron (where planes are parked).

Plane Incidents and Accidents

Serious Accidents with Fatalities

• On December 1, 1936, a LOT Lockheed Model 10 Electra plane crashed near Malakasa, Greece, due to fog. One pilot died.
• On December 28, 1936, another LOT Lockheed Model 10 Electra crashed near Susiec, Poland, due to ice. Two passengers and a mechanic died.
• On November 11, 1937, a LOT Lockheed Model 10 Electra crashed near Warsaw during landing in bad weather. Four passengers died.
• On November 23, 1937, a LOT Douglas DC-2-115D crashed in Bulgaria's Pirin Mountains in bad weather. All six people on board died.
• On July 22, 1938, a LOT Lockheed 14H Super Electra crashed into a hill in Romania. All 14 people on board died. The cause is unknown, but lightning might have hit the plane.
• On November 15, 1951, a LOT Lisunov Li-2 plane crashed near Tuszyn in bad weather. All 15 passengers and three crew members died.
• On March 19, 1954, one passenger died when a LOT Lisunov Li-2 plane crashed near Gruszowiec.
• On June 14, 1957, Flight 232, an Ilyushin Il-14, crashed while landing in Moscow in bad weather. Five of eight passengers and four of five crew members died.
• On August 25, 1960, a LOT Lisunov Li-2 plane crashed near Tczew during a survey flight. Six people died.
• On December 19, 1962, a LOT Vickers Viscount 804 plane crashed while landing at Warsaw-Okecie Airport. All 28 passengers and five crew members died.
• On August 20, 1965, another LOT Vickers Viscount crashed near Jeuk, Belgium, during a thunderstorm. All four people on board died.
• On April 2, 1969, a LOT Antonov An-24 plane crashed into Polica mountain near Zawoja. All 48 passengers and five crew members died. The pilots lost their way in a snowstorm.
• On May 13, 1977, a LOT Antonov An-12 cargo plane crashed near Aramoun, Lebanon. All nine people on board died. The pilots had trouble communicating with air traffic controllers.
• On March 14, 1980, Flight 007, an Ilyushin Il-62, crashed during a landing attempt at Warsaw-Okecie Airport. All 77 passengers and 10 crew members died. A part in one engine broke, damaging the plane's controls.
• On March 26, 1981, a LOT An-24 plane crash-landed near Słupsk. One passenger died in a fire after the crash.
• On May 9, 1987, Flight 5055, another Ilyushin Il-62, crashed in a forest near Warsaw-Okęcie Airport. All 172 passengers and 11 crew members died. An engine exploded, damaging the plane's control systems.
• On November 2, 1988, Flight 703, an An-24, made an emergency landing in a field near Rzeszów after both engines failed. One passenger died. This was the last fatal crash in Polish commercial aviation.

Other Incidents and Accidents

• On August 18, 1938, a LOT Lockheed 14H Super Electra was destroyed by fire in Bucharest.
• On November 1, 2011, Flight 16, a Boeing 767-300ER, had problems with its landing gear. The pilot, Tadeusz Wrona, made a successful landing without the landing gear at Warsaw Chopin Airport. No one was hurt.

Hijacking Attempts During the Cold War

During the Cold War, some LOT planes were hijacked. People forced the planes to land in Western countries, often in West Berlin. The hijackers and other passengers could then ask for political asylum.

• On September 16, 1949, five armed people forced a LOT flight from Gdańsk to Łódź to go to Sweden.
• On December 16, 1949, another plane on the same route was hijacked to Denmark. 16 people asked for political asylum.
• On October 16, 1969, a LOT Antonov An-24 was hijacked to Berlin Tegel Airport, which was in West Berlin.
• Many other hijacking attempts happened in the 1970s and 1980s. Most of these involved people trying to escape to Western countries. Some were successful, allowing people to seek asylum. Others were stopped by pilots or police.

See also

• Transport in Poland
• List of airlines
• LOT Charters
• Nordica (airline)