The FINANCIAL — LOT Polish Airlines is the first European airline company to be starting flights with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an airplane with a new configuration and interior.
The company has already purchased five Dreamliners. They will be used for long-haul flights including America’s. With its Dreamliners, LOT Polish Airlines will carry out flights to the popular destinations of New York, Chicago, Toronto and Peking.
LOT’s 787 Dreamliner will start flying to Chicago from 5 June. Starting the same day some selected flights to Toronto will be operated on 787 as well. Later, from 28 June, the newest plane will be carrying passengers to New York.
And the big surprise from LOT Polish Airlines to its Georgian customers is that Dreamliner will be scheduling two promotional flights from Tbilisi to Warsaw – on 27 June and 1 July. The tickets for these historical flights can be already purchased at LOT Polish Airlines city office (6, Kavsadze street, tel. 255-44-55; 225-15-45) or any other local travel agencies.
“Our goal is to attract more business travellers to LOT Polish Airlines and increase brand awareness and product knowledge of LOT Polish Airlines in Georgia,” Giorgi Lipartiani, General Manager of LOT General Sales Agent, told The FINANCIAL. “The Dreamliner is of a modern construction. New engines, light composite materials, aerodynamic elements, reduced noise and a much more pleasant onboard atmosphere will allow for a significant improvement of in-flight comfort for passengers and will provide LOT Polish Airlines with an airplane truly ready for the 21st century,” he added.
The demand for Dreamliner is high and it is attracting more and more passengers. Ticket prices start from EUR 673 Tbilisi-New York, EUR 694 Tbilisi-Toronto, EUR 785 Tbilisi-Chicago, and EUR 670 Tbilisi-Peking. The above mentioned prices are based on round trip and include airport taxes and fees. Special restrictions may apply.
Dreamliners have three classes for passengers: Business Class with eighteen seats that can extend to reclining positions; Premium Economy with 21 seats equipped with individual IFE system monitors in all armrests; Economy class with 213 seats equipped with personal in-flight entertainment systems.
The new aircrafts’ interiors, with modern audio-video equipment, a delicious updated menu and specially trained cabin crew are designed to provide the maximum comfort for travellers.
“LOT is not a low cost airline, but the prices are lower comparing to other companies operating on Georgian market,” Lipartiani claims.
The starting prices of the most popular routes are as follows: Tbilisi-Warsaw round trip – EUR 271; Tbilisi-Prague round trip – EUR 277; Tbilisi-Amsterdam round trip – EUR 305; Tbilisi-Paris round trip – EUR 319; Tbilisi-Vilnius round trip – EUR 271; Tbilisi-Milan round – EUR 304; Tbilisi-Berlin round trip – EUR 308.
LOT Polish Airlines flew a total of 31,373 passengers in 2012 on Warsaw-Tbilisi-Warsaw route, 25 percent more than it did in 2011. This year, the company expects to have many more passengers due to its increased flight numbers. “Last year LOT Polish Airlines had 5 flights per week during the summer time, this year we are conducting daily flights. So far over 9000 passengers already considered LOT Polish Airlines for own travel needs from/to Tbilisi. ” Lipartiani said.
“We expect a further 25 percent growth this year. Georgians are mostly interested in travelling to the following destinations – London, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Madrid, Paris and Prague. One of our goals is to have more tourists travelling to Poland and we are doing our best to promote this destination for citizens of Georgia. Georgia is a very popular destination for Polish tourists. The number of guests from this country increases every year.” Lipartiani said.
The company flies to 92 destinations from Warsaw including America. LOT Polish Airlines fleet consists of 40 airplanes including 5 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
LOT Travel has 170 local partner travel agencies that sell LOT Polish Airlines tickets in Georgia. Company provides a wide range of cultural, archaeological, educational, pilgrimage, folk and culinary tours, special and tailor-made trips for kids and family vacations, business travel and MICE, combined tours with other South Caucasus countries, airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rental and transportation services to final destinations.
“We are maximally oriented towards client satisfaction,” he continued. “Our incoming, outgoing and ticketing departments are constantly ready to provide the utmost professional advice and schedule a tour or travel service with the highest level of accuracy and attentiveness to customers’ individual requirements,” Lipartiani said.
The total number of airline companies operating in Georgia today is 23. LOT Polish Airlines is managing to maintain one of the leading positions in the market despite of high competition.
“The competition among airline companies in Georgia has become healthier since we entered the market. We are offering lower prices without compromising the highest service standards. It’s clear that the number of our clients is constantly growing. However, as new competitors are coming to the market our market share is not increasing as fast as before. Three new companies entered Georgian market last year and it is a big achievement for LOT Polish Airlines that despite of new comers, we still were able to increase our market share,” Lipartiani stated.
LOT Polish Airlines was founded in 1929 and is one of the oldest airline carriers in Europe. The company is a member of Star Alliance since 2003, the biggest global airline alliance. LOT has been nominated eleven times as the best airline in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2012 it was recognized as the most punctual airline in Europe.
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