LOT Polish Airlines resumed its services to China on May 29, with the introduction of thrice-weekly flights from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport.
The Polish flag carrier operated Warsaw-Beijing flights in 1987, 1989-1998 and during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but suspended these soon after due to lower-than-expected load factors.
LOT will utilise a Boeing 767-300 aircraft on the route until November, when the airline will replace this with its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The airline’s next few Dreamliners are scheduled for delivery in early 2013.
Marcin Piróg, LOT CEO, said he was confident in the viability of the relaunched Warsaw-Beijing service. Compared to previous attempts, they could now count on cooperation with fellow Star Alliance member Air China, he explained.
According to Zhang Wei, general manager outbound travel department, China International Travel Service, besides the additional connection options in Europe, the route launch would facilitate further development of the company’s Eastern European products, such as new packages to Poland and Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, LOT spokesperson Andrzej Kozlowski said the airline was thinking of starting a Warsaw-Tokyo service next year.
Reporting by Hong Xu
