LOT Polish Airlines Leasing EuroAtlantic Boeing 777

LOT Polish Airlines Leasing EuroAtlantic Boeing 777

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If you’re flying LOT Polish Airlines across the Atlantic in the coming months, you might find yourself on a plane you weren’t expecting. Frankly it’s not necessarily bad news…

EuroAtlantic operating Warsaw to New York & Toronto flights

LOT Polish Airlines’ long haul fleet consists exclusively of Boeing 787s. However, the airline has historically leased jets from other airlines in winter to operate select frequencies, during a period when many of LOT’s own aircraft undergo maintenance. That’s exactly what’s happening again this year.

As flagged by AeroRoutes, LOT Polish Airlines will be using a leased Boeing 777-200ER from EuroAtlantic Airways to operate two of its routes over the coming months:

  • The Warsaw (WAW) to Toronto (YYZ) route — LO45/46 — will be operated by a EuroAtlantic 777 5x weekly between September 10 and October 27, 2024
  • The Warsaw (WAW) to New York (JFK) route — LO27/26 — will be operated by a EuroAtlantic 777 6x weekly between October 29, 2024, and March 29, 2025

LOT Polish Airlines is leasing the 20-year-old 777-200ER with the registration code CS-TSW, which has 293 seats. For those not familiar with EuroAtlantic, it’s a Portuguese charter airline, which specifically operates flights on behalf of other airlines.

This is a wet lease arrangement, meaning that the aircraft and crew will be from EuroAtlantic, while you can expect the standard LOT food, drinks, and amenities.

In past years, LOT Polish Airlines has sometimes used Air Belgium for its wet lease needs. However, with Air Belgium (once again) being on the brink of liquidation, I suppose LOT chose to go with a more reliable operator.

A EuroAtlantic 777 will fly for LOT Polish Airlines

What does this EuroAtlantic swap mean for passengers?

Should passengers booked on this EuroAtlantic service be looking forward to this change, or does it represent a downgrade? Well, it’s a mixed bag, I’d say.

For context, LOT operates Boeing 787-8s and 787-9s across the Atlantic, which have the following capacity:

  • LOT 787-8s have 252 seats, including 18 business class seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 213 economy class seats
  • LOT 787-9s have 294 seats, including 24 business class seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 249 economy class seats
LOT Polish Airlines business class 787-9

EuroAtlantic’s Boeing 777-200ER features 293 seats, including:

  • 30 business class seats
  • 24 premium economy seats
  • 239 economy seats

This is a former Alitalia jet, and the interiors very much still reflect that. Business class consists of fully flat staggered seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, so at least each passenger has direct aisle access.

EuroAtlantic 777 business class cabin
EuroAtlantic 777 business class cabin

Premium economy is in a 2-4-2 configuration, and is pretty standard.

EuroAtlantic 777 premium economy cabin
EuroAtlantic 777 premium economy cabin

Economy is also in the typical 3-4-3 configuration.

EuroAtlantic 777 economy cabin

If flying business class, I might just prefer EuroAtlantic to LOT Polish Airlines, which has rather outdated cabins (though they should be refreshed starting in 2026). Meanwhile in the rest of the cabin, I might prefer the general benefits of the Dreamliner.

LOT Polish Airlines business class 787-9

Bottom line

Over the coming months, EuroAtlantic will be operating select transatlantic frequencies on behalf of LOT Polish Airlines, from Warsaw to both New York and Toronto. EuroAtlantic is flying a former Alitalia Boeing 777. While the plane might be a bit on the tired side, the hard product isn’t necessarily worse than you’ll find on LOT Polish Airlines.

What do you make of EuroAtlantic operating LOT’s New York service?

Conversations (14)
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  1. Arne Guest

    Can confirm this is happening. I just received an email from LOT stating that 'for operational reasons', my flight 'will be operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft, in the colors of EuroAtlantic Airways'.

    I fly business, so I see that as an upgrade of the hard product. Given the usual attitude of the staff at LOT, I think a wet lease agreement might mean an upgrade there, too.

    1. Arne Guest

      Just a follow up on my flight, as there was an interesting development here to see.

      My connecting flight with LOT at WAW was about an hour delayed, giving me sufficient time to see an Air Belgium A330 rolling towards the runway. I don't know if Air Belgium is hired directly by LOT or if they operate flights on behalf of EuroAtlantic on behalf of LOT, but LO26 was very much operated by Air...

      Just a follow up on my flight, as there was an interesting development here to see.

      My connecting flight with LOT at WAW was about an hour delayed, giving me sufficient time to see an Air Belgium A330 rolling towards the runway. I don't know if Air Belgium is hired directly by LOT or if they operate flights on behalf of EuroAtlantic on behalf of LOT, but LO26 was very much operated by Air Belgium on the 18th of September. So Air Belgium is operating flights for LOT this winter as well, it seems.

      Now it's up to mr Schlappig to find out about this, I guess.

    2. Marta Guest

      Ok is the crew on the plane polish

  2. David H Guest

    Noel Phillips just did a video with Mozambique Airlines that equipment swapped to Euroatlantic. Same basic configuration, but different seats and color. It's an interesting video.

  3. Nico Guest

    It is not because LOT aircrafts undergo maintenance, they just operate so many charter services during winter months to sunny destination...they operate flights from Prague (CZ) so this is just business decision. We send our aircraft for better biz utilisation and borrow cheaper elsewhere for our operations.

    1. Grzegorz Guest

      No, it's absolutely because of the maintenance. The flights from Czechia have been discontinued and will not be reinstated. Please do not spread misinformation. LOT is doing LOT things again.

  4. Julia Guest

    Any updates on LOT's new lounge at ORD, and when it is expected to open?

    1. kyro Guest

      Should be open by Christmas

    2. MRL Guest

      What lounge access are Star Alliance carriers providing at ORD now that SK has left?

    3. ORD_Is_My_Second_Home Diamond

      You probably have to go to Terminal 1 to use one of the United Clubs, then head over to Terminal 5 to catch your flight. Book a lot of time.

  5. Jeff Guest

    Do you know which days JFK-WAW is flying? It is supposed to be a daily frequency I think, but you said they are only wet leasing for 6 days a week.

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Jeff -- It looks like a 787-8 operates the route on Mondays in both directions.

  6. Scott 2000 Guest

    Hi Ben,

    LO26 & LO27 are the flight numbers for the WAW JFK route. No LO28.

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Scott 2000 -- Fixed, thank you! :-)

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Marta Guest

Ok is the crew on the plane polish

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Arne Guest

Just a follow up on my flight, as there was an interesting development here to see. My connecting flight with LOT at WAW was about an hour delayed, giving me sufficient time to see an Air Belgium A330 rolling towards the runway. I don't know if Air Belgium is hired directly by LOT or if they operate flights on behalf of EuroAtlantic on behalf of LOT, but LO26 was very much operated by Air Belgium on the 18th of September. So Air Belgium is operating flights for LOT this winter as well, it seems. Now it's up to mr Schlappig to find out about this, I guess.

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Arne Guest

Can confirm this is happening. I just received an email from LOT stating that 'for operational reasons', my flight 'will be operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft, in the colors of EuroAtlantic Airways'. I fly business, so I see that as an upgrade of the hard product. Given the usual attitude of the staff at LOT, I think a wet lease agreement might mean an upgrade there, too.

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