Polish flag carrier lot chose the Airbus A220 for the short-range fleet Renewal program after strong competition with the Emblem.
The lot initially got a 40 A220 (equally split between -300 and -100) between -300 and -100 to replace the current fleet when the airline first chose Airbus for fleet modernization.
Delivery will begin in the summer of 2027.
The rest will acquire a total of up to 84 aircraft and will be delivered when the airport developed between Warsaw and Utz is ready in 2032.
“More than a year ago, I began working on this project, the Reflet project, and found a suitable partner for Lott's regional fleet,” says CEO Mikal Fijol.
He says that Carrier and Air Flammer “knowed much about each other,” but they have reached a point that seals off the “new era” partnership for the airline.
Fijol says Lott received two “very competitive offers” which he says is “very close,” but adds that Airbus “wants us more.”
“We really believe the A220 is the perfect aircraft for the future of Lot,” he adds. “It's very well suited to our strategy.”
Fijol says the Twinjet type, powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine, will help to increase the airline's route network and provide passengers with a modern cabin with more space while reducing fuel.
Configurable with up to 149 seats, the A220 is a larger model than the lot is normally used in regional networks, but Fijol points out that carriers have been using the Embraer E2 recently, and passenger growth is driving expansion.
He added that airlines also take two years to adapt before bringing in the A220, and the balance between variants may vary depending on lot requirements.
“We need to compete with Europe's largest aviation group,” Fijol says. “Aircraft costs play a very important role in that respect.”
The Paris Air Show event, whose orders were revealed, featured substantial representatives of the Polish government and came just a month after Nancy's high-level cooperative treaty was signed between France and Poland.
However, Airbus Commercial Aircraft Chief Christian Scheller claims there is “no link,” adding, “this is an airplane deal.”
Fijol also sought out any relationship, saying that “decisions need to be made based on the number of aircraft and economic performance.”
