LOT Polish Airlines has selected the Airbus A220 as its aircraft of choice for its regional fleet refresh. The announcement was made on the first day of the Paris Air Show and is a major blow to Embraer, which was also in the running.
LOT Polish has Historically Used Embraer E190 Aircraft on Regional Routes
LOT Polish currently operates a fleet of Boeing (737 and 787) and Embraer (E170, E175, E190, and E195) aircraft. One would think from a fleet consistency standpoint that the Embraer E2 would have been the frontrunner for the new order but, LOT Polish has elected to go with the A220 instead.
While I don’t mind the E2, I find the A220 to be a fantastic plane to fly. Its 2-3 seating layout means that there is only one middle seat per row, a major improvement over the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families, and is much roomier than the E2 which utilizes a 2-2 seating layout.
The A220 also provides much more capacity for the carrier as it targets future growth. The airline expects to configure its A220s with between 100 and 160 seats, depending on the variant.
LOT Polish Orders up to 84 A220s
Not only will the A220s provide more capacity, LOT Polish is planning to take a lot of them. The carrier announced firm orders for 40 A220s, split between the smaller A220-100 and larger A220-300 along with an option to add up to 44 more.
Michał Fijoł, President & CEO of LOT Polish Airlines, had this to say about the order:
While making the choice today, we are thinking about the future. Airbus A220 family aircraft that will start joining the LOT Polish Airlines fleet in 2027 provide us with new growth and expansion opportunities that serve as the cornerstones of our development strategy. Designed with the comfort of our passengers in mind, these modern and fuel efficient planes will allow us to compete on the European sky, to strengthen our position of the preferred carrier in this part of Europe and to prepare LOT Polish Airlines to play the role of the leading carrier operating from Centralny Port Komunikacyjny.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales for Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, added:
The order for 40 Airbus A220 aircraft is a historic breakthrough, as we are able to officially welcome LOT Polish Airlines in the Airbus family. The A220 will play a crucial role in the process of modernising LOT’s fleet and in the expansion of its connection network. A220-100 and A220-300 jets offer a perfect blend of features for satisfying those needs. We are looking forward to the cooperation with LOT Polish Airlines and to drawing upon the global knowledge of Airbus in order to support the carrier’s fleet modernisation programme and to ensure smooth integration of the A220 model.
LOT Polish plans to outfit its A220 aircraft with Recaro seats, which will be manufactured in Poland, which will feature seatback device holders, USB-C power ports, and cupholders. All aircraft will also be equipped with Wi-Fi.
The airline expects to take delivery of its first A220 in 2027 with the final plane of the initial 40 aircraft firm commitment being delivered in 2031. As the new aircraft come online and the existing Embraer’s age, the carrier expects to transition to an all Airbus A220 regional fleet.
Summary
LOT Polish has announced plans to purchase up to 84 Airbus A220 aircraft as part of its regional fleet renewal plans. The A220s will offer an increase in capacity from its current Embraer E-Series fleet and should also make for a comfortable ride for passengers. The initial 40 aircraft order is expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2031.
(Images courtesy LOT Polish Airlines)
