LOT ! LO LOT!

LOT senior management heads to Seattle to discuss 787 with Boeing
By Lori Ranson

Executives at LOT Polish Airlines are flying to Seattle tomorrow to meet with Boeing officials to hash out the status of the carrier's 787 order and options to ensure the carrier can build out its route network.

The carrier ordered up to 14 787s in 2005, and was originally scheduled to take first delivery in the autumn of 2008. If the original schedule had remained in place LOT would currently be operating about four of the aircraft.

Today during an event at Newark airport to mark the official entry of Continental Airlines into the Star Alliance, LOT CEO Sebastian Mikosz told ATI and Flightglobal about his trip tomorrow to Seattle.

Previously Mikosz has hinted he would not rule out a switch to Airbus if LOT fails to reach a definite conclusion with Boeing regarding its widebody fleet options.

"We absolutely need to take a decision about the Dreamliner," says Mikosz

The four 767s LOT currently operates on long-haul routes are getting old, he explains. "Boeing knows that. We will see what comes out."

Mikosz also stresses aircraft options are key for LOT. If the carrier opts to exercise additional options that would allow LOT to either bolster its North America network or introduce new service to Dubai or Tokyo.

LOT recently secured approval to operate up to 10 services per week to Japan. Three must be operated to Tokyo while the rest would be allotted to Osaka or Nagoya.

Likening LOT's current situation to the "chicken and the egg", Mikosz asks: "What comes first the aircraft or the route?"

Mikosz and LOT management are also analysing LOT's narrowbody fleet. The carrier could switch some of its older 737-400s/500s for either next generation 737s or Embraer E-195s, he says.

The chief says the E-195 "has very good opinions" and is appreciated by pilots. LOT currently operates 10 E-170s and six E-175s. Mikosz refers to the E-175 specifically, explaining it matches the carrier's needs perfectly. LOT is aiming to make decision regarding the make-up of its narrowbody fleet by yearend.

Mikosz also says he is keen to rid LOT of some smaller aircraft types including its six ERJ-145s and six ATR 42-500s. LOT also operates eight larger ATR-72s.

LOT Polish Airlines has three bidders interested in participating in the carrier's privatization, according to reports from Warsaw. A Polish treasury spokesperson said a major airline and a financial investor are among the suitors. Air France KLM denied reports that it is participating, and Aeroflot denied interest when asked by Bloomberg News. The treasury spokesperson said the sale is unlikely to happen this year. The treasury holds 68% of the carrier.

LOT Polish Airlines: six mois de retard pour les 787


Publié le 8 novembre 2011 à 11h00 par François Duclos dans Actualité, Technologie - 0 commentaire



La compagnie aérienne LOT Polish Airlines a annoncé un report de six mois pour la livraison du premier de ses huit Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, désormais attendue au dernier trimestre 2012.

Plus de quatre ans de retard: alors que la compagnie nationale
polonaise avait déjà vu la livraison de son premier Dreamliner repoussée
à avril 2012, mais cette date est désormais un rêve. Selon son PDG
Marcin Pirog, il faudra attendre les trois derniers mois de 2012 pour
voir arriver l’avion en matériaux composites. Mince
consolation, Boeing lui aurait promis que deux autres exemplaires
suivants arriveront en Pologne dans les deux mois suivants la première
livraison.

Compagnie de lancement en Europe du Dreamliner, la compagnie de Star Alliance les a configuré pour accueillir 252 passagers,
18 en classe affaires (avec sièges s’inclinant à plat), 21 en premium
et 213 en économie. LOT Polish Airlines en a commandé sept dès 2005,
puis un huitième deux ans plus tard, et attend leur livraison depuis
2008.

Ils doivent remplacer quatre 767-300ER, âgés de 14
ans et qui doivent quitter la flotte d’ici mi 2013 (l’un d’entre eux
vient d’atterrir sur le nez à Varsovie après avoir connu un problème de
train d’atterrissage). LOT espère lancer de nouvelles routes en 787 vers Pékin et Tokyo – Narita, en espérant que ce soit possible l’année prochaine.

Le premier vol commercial du Dreamliner a eu lieu le 26 octobre 2011, sa compagnie de lancement All Nippon Airways l’emmenant de Tokyo à Hong Kong.
http://www.air-journal.fr/2011-11-08-lot-polish-airlines-six-mois-de-retard-pour-les-787-538974.html