LOT Polish Airlines to boost 787 fleet to 15 by October 2019

LOT Polish Airlines will take three additional Boeing 787-9s on 12-year operational lease agreements with Irish lessor Avolon beginning next year, the said Tuesday. Two will be delivered in May 2019, the third in October 2019. By that point, LOT’s fleet of 787s will total 15 aircraft. LOT’s present fleet of Dreamliners includes eight leased-in 787-8s and one 787-9. The -9, which was delivered to LOT in March, is the first of three 787-9s LOT will operate on long-term lease with US lessor Aviation Capital Group (ACG). The remaining two -9s from ACG are scheduled for delivery to LOT this month (April) and February 2019. The fourth -9 previously ordered is on long-term lease with US lessor Air Lease Corporation and is set for delivery during Q2 2018, according to ALC. LOT’s first 787-9 operates regular flights to Chicago and Toronto while the next -9, due this month, will fly between Warsaw and New York-JFK, as well as some flights to Seoul, South Korea. The airline said it is in talks to purchase another three wide- and narrow-body aircraft, and is waiting on delivery for four out of six 737 MAX 8s LOT has on order through ALC, and five out of six Embraer E195s. Additionally, two Bombardier Q400 turboprops are expected to be added to LOT’s fleet “for at least six months,” the airliner said.<br/>