LOT Polish Airlines has resumed its regional operations with a new wet-lease partnership, operating the Warsaw to Tel Aviv route during the winter season of 2025/2026. The airline has begun using an Airbus A320-200 leased from Electra Airways, marking its first wet-lease deployment for this route after previous suspensions linked to regional security issues.
The leased aircraft, registration LZ-EAH, is part of a fleet operated by Bulgaria’s Electra Airways and was ferried from Varna to Tel Aviv on October 25, 2025. It has been providing daily service since then. The aircraft, aged 19.1 years, features an all-economy layout with 180 seats and is powered by CFM56 engines from CFM International. It was initially delivered to Air Arabia in 2006 and has since operated for airlines including Rossiya, Interjet, and Ultra Air, before being leased to LOT.
Strategic Reentry into the Region
LOT’s decision to re-enter the Tel Aviv market comes after its previous contract with Hello Jets was suspended in May 2025. The airline is now utilizing wet leases to navigate ongoing security concerns which have previously led to route suspensions. Plans include leasing a Boeing 777-200ER from Privilege Style in late November to expand capacity further.
In the broader context, LOT’s fleet consists of sixteen Boeing 737-8 and six 737-800 aircraft. The leased A320-200 is currently the only aircraft in its fleet supplied via wet lease for this route, reflecting evolving operational strategies in response to regional conditions and market demand.
