LOT Adds Gdansk-Istanbul and Warsaw-Malaga Nonstops
LOT Polish Airlines (LO) has kicked off 2026 with two new international routes, pairing a business-friendly link from northern Poland to Istanbul with a sun-focused addition from its Warsaw hub to Spain’s Costa del Sol.
The twin launches reinforce two themes in LOT’s current strategy: building more point-to-point flying from regional airports and strengthening year-round leisure connectivity from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW).
Gdańsk Gains Direct Access to Istanbul’s Global Hub
From January 14, 2026, LOT began nonstop flights between Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN) and Istanbul Airport (IST), operating four times weekly.
The service gives the Tri-City region direct access to one of Europe’s largest connecting hubs, supporting both origin-and-destination traffic and onward travel opportunities across Turkey, the Middle East, and Asia via Istanbul.
Planned schedule (local times):
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LO2301: GDN 16:30 → IST 22:20
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LO2302: IST 23:55 → GDN 01:25 (next day)
LOT is operating the route with the Boeing 737 MAX 8, a type well-suited to high-demand intra-European and near-Middle East sectors thanks to its efficiency and range.
Warsaw–Málaga Opens Up Year-Round Costa del Sol Demand
One day later, on January 15, 2026, LOT launched nonstop service between Warsaw (WAW) and Málaga Airport (AGP)—a major leisure gateway for Andalusia and the broader Costa del Sol region.
LOT is positioning Málaga as a dependable, all-season market rather than a short summer spike. In the winter pattern, the route operates four days per week, with additional days added in summer to reach up to six weekly flights.
Typical timing (local):
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Depart WAW 10:20 → Arrive AGP 14:35 (about 4h 15m)
The route is being operated by the Boeing 737-800, a core aircraft in LOT’s short- and medium-haul fleet.
What These Two Routes Say About LOT’s 2026 Playbook
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Regional uplift: GDN–IST is a meaningful upgrade for northern Poland, especially for travelers who previously had to connect via WAW (or use indirect low-cost options to Istanbul’s secondary airports).
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Spain depth from WAW: Málaga strengthens LOT’s Spanish footprint with a destination that can sell through winter—helpful for smoothing seasonal swings and supporting connecting flows over WAW.
Bottom Line
LOT’s January additions—Gdańsk (GDN)–Istanbul (IST) and Warsaw (WAW)–Málaga (AGP)—blend hub access and leisure demand into a straightforward expansion: a regional-to-hub connector on the 737 MAX 8 and a year-round sun route on the 737-800, with Málaga building toward up to six weekly frequencies as the schedule matures.
