Polish carrier LOT will add three direct routes from Kraków to Barcelona, Madrid and Rome from March 31 next year, expanding its regional network alongside growth at its Warsaw hub, a company executive said.
Robert Ludera, head of network planning, said the move follows the gradual addition of new aircraft.
LOT will begin taking delivery of Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets this year to support expansion in Warsaw and in regional airports across Poland.
Kraków already features prominently in LOT’s plans, with current services to Istanbul, Chicago, Paris-Orly, Tel Aviv, and domestic routes to Warsaw and Olsztyn. The addition of Barcelona, Madrid and Rome represents the airline’s largest single increase in capacity at Kraków Airport, Ludera said.
The new routes will run year-round. In the summer schedule, LOT plans four weekly flights to Barcelona, six to Madrid and five to Rome. Winter frequencies may be adjusted based on demand, he added.
While LOT will face competitors on the new city pairs, the carrier expects the services to succeed, citing its own market research and passenger feedback.
Kraków Airport chief executive Łukasz Strutyński called the announcement a milestone for the airport, estimating LOT’s presence there will grow by about 40% next year. LOT projects it could carry as many as 800,000 passengers at the airport in 2026.
Founded in 1929, LOT offers long-haul non-stops to the United States, Canada, India, Japan and South Korea, as well as numerous European capitals. The airline carried 10.7 million passengers last year.
Kraków Airport is Poland’s second-busiest airport and its largest regional hub. It handled nearly 11.1 million passengers last year and expects to reach about 13 million this year.
The current summer schedule lists 160 connections to 114 cities in 35 countries served by 28 airlines.
(jh)
Source: PAP