LOT Polish Airlines has commited to base one aircraft and add two further routes from Hungarian gateway Budapest Airport later this summer.
A member of Star Alliance, LOT will become one of the main hub airlines at the airport, with the investment also opening new connection opportunities for other European markets, which in turn will advance passenger flows through Budapest.
Commencing 12 times weekly operations to both Brussels and Bucharest from 2 September, LOT’s high-frequency service will utilise the carrier’s three-class Embraer 195s.
These routes are targeting business passengers wanting to travel between the capital cities as well as onward connections, including the carrier’s pivotal long-haul routes to New York and Chicago from Budapest.
While providing vital links for Hungarian travellers on LOT’s extensive route network, the new services make numerous other global destinations available via other Star Alliance partners.
Budapest chief executive officer (CEO), Jost Lammers, said the airline has advanced to carrying over a quarter of a million passengers a year from Budapest.
As LOT’s latest services join its existing long-haul flights to New York JFK, Chicago O’Hare plus multi-daily, high-frequency services London City, Warsaw Chopin and Kraków, this announcement will see the Star Alliance carrier operate to seven destinations.
LOT Polish Airlines CEO, Rafał Milczarski said: “After London City, it will be time for services to Brussels and Bucharest, the capitals with so far underserved connections by a full service airline. From now on, only LOT will offer three classes of travel on-board comfortable Embraer jets. That’s what our passengers are looking for.
“With these new flights we will start developing transfer traffic via Budapest Airport. That applies to passengers from Bucharest, who connect in Budapest, i.e. to London City, New York and Chicago, as well as to Brussels. The offer of transit connections will definitely increase the attractiveness of Budapest Airport.”
