[naewoeilbo내외일보]Lee Su Han이수한 기자=Warsaw, 23 September, 2019 – Today LOT Polish Airlines took off on its first scheduled flight from Seoul to Budapest. From now on state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be operating this  regularly three times a week . This way LOT ensures passengers the most convenient and effective way of travels to already two European capitals – Warsaw and Budapest. Thus, LOT is responding to the high demand for air travels between South Korea and Europe. 

LOT Polish Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Europe and Star Alliance Member has launched today regular flights between the two capitals. From now on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft (B787-8 and B787-9) will be operating this route three times weekly according to the following schedule: 

ICN-BUD  LO2002 07:35 – 12:20 Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays

BUD-ICN   LO2001 11:25 – 6:05 (+1) Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays

 “The launch of flights between Seoul and Budapest is yet  another milestone in LOT’s history. I am certain that our services will meet the expectations of Koreans and Hungarians. Tourism and business potential between Budapest and Seoul is huge - the annual passenger traffic on that route reaches 75,000, and the number of passengers travelling annually between the CEE region and Seoul exceeds 580,000. As a leader in Central and Eastern Europe LOT responds to passengers needs offering flights not to one but already to two European capitals – Warsaw and Seoul. This way we ensure Koreans the most convenient travels and the utmost experience on board our aircraft,” says Rafał Milczarski, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines.

Budapest-Seoul flight will take approximately 11 hours. The new services will offer transfer opportunities to other LOT services out of Budapest: Brussels, Prague, Stuttgart and also Warsaw. 

LOT started operating flights between Poland and South Korea in 2017 with three weekly flights. Now the Poland’s flag carrier is offering 5 weekly flights between Seoul Incheon and Warsaw. 

“Our decision to launch non-stop flights between Budapest and Seoul shows how much we believe in Hungary as one of the key markets in Central and Eastern Europe for LOT. With the new flight, LOT offers as many as 10 connections from Hungarian capital. For LOT, it is also a completely new chapter in leveraging our operations. For the first time in its 90-year history, LOT is launching a connection to Asia from outside Poland,” says Rafał Milczarski, LOT’S CEO. 

The passengers on the board of LOT’s Dreamliner will have three travel classes at their disposal – LOT Business Class with flat-bed seats and cuisine resembling that of the best restaurants; LOT Premium Economy Class with larger, individual space and comfortable seats with footrests and thigh support, cocktail tables and extensive menu as well as LOT Economy Class with modern seats and individual on-board entertainment screens as well as USB ports.

Especially for passengers travelling on the Budapest-Seoul route LOT has, inter alia, a Korean menu while the on-board entertainment system available in the Korean language version features Korean movies. Ultimately LOT plans to ensure a Korean-speaking crew member on board each flight. 

Currently, LOT’s cabin crew operating non-stop flights from Budapest totals 80 flight attendants and a dozen or so Hungarian pilots. It has been recruiting new candidates on a current basis and plans to have employed approx. 150 new pilots until the end of 2019 to work at its bases in Warsaw and Budapest. Launch of new flights from Budapest is another element in the implementation of the profitable growth strategy of LOT Polish Airlines, the purpose of which is to build the position of leading airlines in Central and Eastern Europe.  

The Budapest-Seoul route launch is part of the profitable growth strategy, which LOT Polish Airlines has been implementing since early 2016. As result over three years, LOT has become the fastest growing airline in Europe, doubled its fleet size and having launched over 70 new routes worldwide. By the end of 2019, additional B787 Dreamliner will join the fleet, increasing the total number of LOT wide-body aircraft to 15.

In 2018, LOT carried more than 8.9 million passengers aboard its flights, an increase of 2 million versus 2017. For 2019, it plans to welcome 10 million guests. LOT Polish Airlines is a fully integrated member of the Miles & More frequent flyer program and a member of Star Alliance since 2003.

Tickets for the flights between Budapest and Seoul can be purchased through all sales channels, including the lot.com website, the LOT Contact Center, LOT Travel offices, and travel