LOT Polish Airlines (Warsaw) on May 29 relaunched the connection between Warsaw and Beijing. The inaugural flight took off from Chopin Airport after 4:10 pm (1610). Poland’s First Lady, Anna Komorowska, and members of Trade Mission headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Waldemar Pawlak, were among the VIP’s on board.
Resumption of the Chinese route is another stage of LOT Polish Airlines’ “East Meets West” strategy that has been implemented since 2011. Opening the new Beijing destination was possible thanks to favorable takeoff and landing slots at the Beijing airport, negotiated by LOT. Last year, the Polish carrier also got approval from the Russian authorities to fly over Siberia, thus enabling it to use the shortest air corridor. Among other things, this agreement with Russia will significantly decrease fuel consumption and duration of the flights to Beijing.
The carrier’s hub at Chopin Airport in Warsaw is aspiring to become the connecting center of Central Europe. LOT Polish Airlines operates this connection jointly with Air China (Beijing) on a code-share basis. This allows LOT to use the extensive sales network of the Chinese carrier.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will soon operate on this route. Until November 2012, flights on this route will be operated by Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will replace the currently operated Boeing 767s when delivered.
Flights to Beijing will operate three times a week – on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 4:10 pm (1610) (arrival in China at 6:35 am local time) and flights from Beijing to Warsaw will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:45 am (0845) (arrival in Warsaw at 12:40 pm local time).
Copyright Photo: Pepscl.
LOT Polish: 