LOT's First Flight to Riyadh: A New Destination on the Map

Polish Airlines LOT successfully launched a new direct route to Riyadh. The first flight took place at the beginning of June, marking a significant step in the airline's international expansion. The air communication agreement signed between Poland and Saudi Arabia in August last year paved the way for these developments.

During the presentation of the 2024-2028 strategy, LOT consistently emphasized its commitment to developing new routes. In December last year, an agreement was finalized, enabling flights to Riyadh to commence in June of this year.

LOT President Michał Fijoł expressed satisfaction with the new connection, highlighting that the Warsaw-Riyadh route opens new opportunities for both tourism and business. Riyadh, as a dynamic center of culture and commerce, gains importance through the direct connection with Warsaw, which will contribute to the intensification of economic and cultural exchange between the two countries.

Flights to Riyadh will be operated three times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays—using Boeing B737 MAX8 aircraft, which can accommodate 189 passengers. Departures from Warsaw are scheduled for 3:20 PM, with arrival in Riyadh after five and a half hours. Return flights will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, departing Riyadh at 1:25 AM.

While the arrival times in Warsaw are convenient for Polish passengers, the departure times from Riyadh might pose some challenges. Riyadh lacks a well-developed public transport network, but the airport is relatively close to the city, and taxi fares are moderate.

For transfer passengers, flights to Warsaw offer extensive onward travel options, especially to Western Europe, Scandinavia, and North America. However, LOT will face competition from carriers from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Istanbul, and Qatar, which are major transit hubs for travelers from Riyadh.

The increase in the number of passengers traveling from Poland to Saudi Arabia by 43% in 2023 compared to the previous year indicates growing interest in this route. The new Warsaw-Riyadh route will provide up to 156 rotations and 58,968 seats in 2024, which should contribute to further growth in traffic between the two countries.

However, it is important to remember that entry into Saudi Arabia requires a visa, which costs approximately 500 PLN, along with mandatory insurance. This additional financial burden may discourage some travelers from short tourist trips to Riyadh.