LOT Polish Airlines Orders Up To 84 Airbus A220s, In Major Blow To Embraer

Star Alliance carrier LOT Polish Airlines has just placed a massive aircraft order, which marks a new chapter for the airline.

LOT selects Airbus A220 for regional fleet renewal

LOT Polish Airlines has placed a firm order for 40 Airbus A220s — this includes 20 of the smaller A220-100 variants, and 20 of the larger A220-300 variants, with deliveries expected as of 2027. On top of that, the airline has options for 44 more of these jets, meaning the airline could eventually fly up to 84 Airbus A220s.

The A220 is a great plane to fly, and is one of my favorite commercial aircraft. The A220 has incredible economics and range, and a great passenger experience, given the 2-3 configuration, which means there’s only one middle seat per row.

Here’s how LOT Executive Officer Michał Fijoł describes this decision:

“Today’s decision is about the future. The Airbus A220 family aircraft, which will start joining our fleet in 2027, open up new opportunities for development and growth – key pillars of our strategy. These modern, efficient, and passenger-focused aircraft will allow us to compete effectively in the European skies, strengthen our position as the preferred carrier in Central and Eastern Europe, and prepare LOT for its role as a leading airline at the Central Communication Port.”

This is a massive development for LOT, Airbus, and Embraer

This isn’t just your typical Airbus A220 order, as this represents a major strategy shift for the Polish flag carrier. Historically, LOT Polish Airlines has exclusively flown Boeing and Embraer jets, including the Boeing 787, Boeing 737, and various Embraer variants (E170, E175, E190, E195).

LOT had reportedly been trying to decide between ordering the Airbus A220 and the Embraer E190/195-E2 for its regional fleet renewal, and the airline has gone with the former. So we’re going to see the airline gradually replace its Embraer aircraft with new Airbus jets. This is of course a big win for Airbus, and a big loss for Embraer.

This order will also help LOT grow its capacity considerably. The current Embraer fleet seats anywhere from 76 to 118 seats per aircraft, while the A220s will have somewhere around 100 to 160 seats per aircraft. We know that LOT is looking to grow in the coming years, and this is a clear sign of that. I’d say it also reflects LOT’s more pro-European Union government, given that Airbus is a European aircraft manufacturer.

Bottom line

LOT Polish Airlines has placed an order for up to 84 Airbus A220s, with 40 firm orders and 44 options, evenly split between the A220-100 and A220-300. This represents LOT’s first ever order for Airbus jets, and it also means that LOT has chosen the A220 to replace its existing Embraer fleet.

The A220 is an awesome plane, so this seems like a sensible order, that will allow LOT to grow capacity over time. However, Embraer also makes great planes, and it means that LOT will only fly considerably higher capacity jets in the future.

What do you make of LOT’s A220 order?