LOT Polish Airlines Expands Central Asia Reach with New Almaty Route from Warsaw

New Central Asian Connection

LOT Polish Airlines is expanding its Central Asian network with the addition of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city and commercial hub, as its third destination in the region, according to Aviation Week Network reports. The Polish flag carrier will commence operations on the Warsaw-Almaty route on May 31, 2026, using Boeing 737-8 aircraft with four weekly flights during summer and three weekly during winter seasons.

New Central Asian Connection
Strategic Network Expansion
Growing Market Demand
Economic and Trade Significance
Capacity and Market Position

Strategic Network Expansion

The new route represents LOT’s second destination in Kazakhstan, complementing its existing Astana service that began in May 2017, and follows the recent March 2024 launch of Warsaw-Tashkent flights. Sources indicate the airline had originally planned Almaty service in 2020 after Poland and Kazakhstan agreed to expand bilateral flight rights from four to fourteen weekly frequencies in late 2019, but pandemic-related disruptions delayed implementation., according to industry experts

Analysis of passenger data suggests strong potential for the new route. Figures from Sabre Market Intelligence reportedly show 11,950 two-way passengers traveled between Warsaw and Almaty in 2024, representing a 19.7% year-over-year increase, with all passengers currently connecting through intermediate hubs like Doha and Istanbul.

Growing Market Demand

The broader Poland-Kazakhstan market demonstrated significant growth, with approximately 49,500 two-way passengers in 2024—a 19.2% increase over 2023 figures. The existing Warsaw-Astana route accounted for more than half of this traffic, according to the report.

Passenger flow analysis suggests LOT’s Astana service benefits from substantial connecting traffic through its Warsaw hub, with more than 57% of travelers originating at airports beyond Warsaw, including Star Alliance hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, as well as Dusseldorf, Prague, and Hamburg. Industry analysts suggest similar feeder demand patterns are expected to support the new Almaty service once operational.

Economic and Trade Significance

“Kazakhstan, as the largest economy in Central Asia and one of Poland’s key trading partners in that area, is an excellent destination for our passengers thinking about expanding their businesses,” LOT Director of Network Planning Robert Ludera stated in the report.

The economic relationship between the two countries provides substantial foundation for the air service expansion. Bilateral trade reached $1.12 billion in 2024, accounting for more than 80% of Poland’s total trade with Central Asia. The report indicates more than 140 Polish companies operate in Kazakhstan, with cumulative Polish investment exceeding $520 million since 2005.

Capacity and Market Position

Data from OAG Schedules Analyser shows LOT currently provides approximately 1,488 two-way weekly seats between Poland and Kazakhstan, a figure that will temporarily decrease to 1,116 during the winter 2025-26 season. With the Almaty addition, total capacity will reportedly double to nearly 3,000 weekly seats in summer 2026, reinforcing LOT’s position as the sole carrier offering nonstop connections between the two countries.

The expansion strengthens LOT’s strategic presence in Central Asia while capitalizing on growing economic ties and passenger demand between Eastern Europe and the resource-rich region. The Boeing 737-8 operations on the route will provide consistent equipment with the airline’s other Central Asian services, offering operational efficiency and passenger experience consistency.

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