LOT to overhaul its fleet and add routes out of Warsaw hub

"LOT Polish Airlines is planning an overhaul of its narrowbody fleet with the addition of some more aircraft to better compete with low-cost rivals in the fast-growing eastern European market and add routes out of its Warsaw hub," the carrier's CEO Rafal Milczarski announced on Saturday. "We are interested in increasing the significance and scope of our hub in Warsaw," he added. According to Milczarski, due to previous management issues and some technical problems, state-owned LOT had not made the most of the fast-growing market for travel demand in eastern Europe, unlike low-cost rival Wizz Air. "A decision will be taken very shortly and the aircraft will arrive in our fleet in the first quarter of 2017," he said, adding that the group wants to double or triple the size of its narrowbody fleet, which currently consists of just three 737s. LOT's widebody fleet will also rise to eight aircraft when two new 787 Dreamliners enter the fleet next year.