LOT has set out its 2020 profitable growth strategy, under which the carrier plans to achieve sustainable viability and become a leading airline in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe servicing over 10 million passengers per year, gradually increasing its fleet and launching new flights.
LOT’s strategy is based on five pillars: taking advantage of potential that lies in a growing market, developing a network of connections and a hub, competition, boosting effectiveness and building a committed team.
“Taking maximal advantage of the fact that the market of air services in Poland and the Central and Eastern Europe is bound to grow at a much quicker pace than in other European countries is a starting point for our plan of further growth. We have estimated that in Poland alone the number of passengers is going to grow at about 5% per year. It is a huge opportunity for us,” says Rafał Milczarski, LOT’s CEO.
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LOT 787[/caption]
“Long-distance flights are the most profitable part of our business and being the only airlines in the region, LOT has the related growth potential. We are mostly going to focus on developing flights to North America and most important business centers in Asia. Connections to Central Asia and to the Middle East are particularly interesting from our perspective. Warsaw’s geographical location allows to develop an unmatched offering of flights to countries such as Kazakhstan or Iran. We are going to take advantage of that potential,” adds Rafał Milczarski.
In a few weeks LOT is going to launch a direct flight to Seoul and next year another connection to Newark in the USA is scheduled to be opened. Flights to the NYC’s second airport will be initially operated four and then five times a week, starting from the beginning of the 2017 summer season.
“We are happy to return to Newark because it is an important connection to the Polish community. Newark is also an important interchange for passengers who continue their travel to other destinations in the United States and it simply extends our offering,” says Rafał Milczarski.