Warsaw, 29th July 2025:
Poland’s national airline and Vienna Airport are commemorating a long-standing and dynamic partnership. On July 29, 1955, LOT Polish Airlines resumed flight operations to Vienna, inaugurating a period of uninterrupted service on the Warsaw–Vienna route that endures to this day. Yet the roots of LOT’s presence in the Austrian capital reach even deeper—its inaugural aircraft touched down in Vienna as early as 1929, operating both non-stop and direct services from Katowice. Over the decades, this route has played a pivotal role in the airline’s development, serving as the launchpad for major fleet milestones, including the first Embraer 170 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner landings at Vienna Airport. About three million passengers have taken advantage of this flight connection over the last 30 years alone, namely since 1994. Today the 70th anniversary of flight service linking Warsaw and Vienna was commemorated within the context of a photo session featuring Amit Ray (Director DACH Markets, Italy, Malta, India & Head of Global Corporate & Strategic Sales), Olaf Krauss (Sales Manager Austria & Corporate Sales Italy), both for LOT Polish Airlines and Julian Jäger (joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport).
“The Vienna–Warsaw connection has been a success story for 70 years. LOT Polish Airlines was one of the first international carriers at Vienna Airport and served as a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe. Today, this route is a key pillar of our network – strategically vital. Over the past three decades, three million passengers have flown this route, underscoring its unique blend of continuity and future potential”, states Julian Jäger, joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport.
“Our connection with Vienna dates back to 1929, when LOT’s first aircraft landed in the Austrian capital. Since the resumption of regular operations in 1955, we have developed this route not only through consistent air service, but also through a shared history, mutual trust, and a strong sense of European identity. It was on this very route that LOT introduced newest additions to its fleet – the Embraer 170 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner – underscoring its strategic importance within our network. Today, Warsaw and Vienna are more than just two Central European capitals; they are essential transit hubs at the heart of Europe” , adds Robert Ludera, Proxy and Director of Network Department at LOT Polish Airlines.
A flight connection with many premieres: 70 years of flights on the Warsaw-Vienna route
The Warsaw–Vienna flight connection is a well-established route in the airline’s network, but one of particular importance. In 2004, LOT Polish Airlines reached a global milestone by becoming the first airline in the world to operate the Embraer 170 on a commercial flight. The next premiere took place eight years later i.e., in the year 2012. LOT Polish Airlines was the first European airline to deploy the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Once again, it did so on the Warsaw-Vienna route. These pioneer achievements underline the airline’s innovative strength, and its close ties to Vienna Airport. The connection goes back even further, as LOT Polish Airlines already landed in 1929 at the former Aspern airfield in Vienna, well before today’s Vienna Airport was officially opened in 1954.
