LOT cancels some flights until April due to rising aviation fuel costs

Temporary reduction of European routes

Polish airline LOT has decided to temporarily suspend the operation of some flights. The main reasons for this step are the rising prices of aviation fuel and intense competition in the market, which limits the carrier's ability to increase ticket prices.

By the end of October, flights from Warsaw to Bologna will disappear from the schedule. Flights from Krakow to three Spanish and Italian cities—Madrid, Rome, and Barcelona—will also be suspended. On some other routes, the company is not cancelling the routes entirely but is only reducing the frequency of flight operations.

Financial challenges and recovery plans

The return of cancelled routes is planned for the beginning of April, when the airline switches to its summer schedule. A LOT representative explained that the share of fuel in airline costs can reach 40%, whereas in February this figure was approximately 25%. Meanwhile, due to the high level of competition, the company does not have the ability to freely adjust ticket prices upwards to compensate for the increase in operating costs.

Expansion of the intercontinental network

Despite the reduction of some intra-European flights, LOT's strategy involves expanding intercontinental connections. The airline has already begun operating flights to Bangkok, and at the end of March, it plans to open a new route to Hanoi. Additionally, the carrier's fleet will be supplemented by four Boeing Dreamliner aircraft.