A route for tourism and business
LOT Polish announced the new route earlier this month. The service will provide a new connection between the largest Turkish city of Istanbul and the capital of the Małopolska region of Poland.
The first flights will be operated three times a week. The flight departs Krakow on 17:10 local time, arriving in Istanbul at 20:30 local time. The return sector will depart Istanbul at 21:20 local time and arrives back in Krakow at 22:20.
LO139 KRK1710 – 2030 IST E95 247
LO140 IST2120 – 2230KRK E95 247
Flights will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays and the route will be operated by the carrier’s Embraer E195 regional jets.
Michał Fijoł, Member of the Management Board of LOT Polish Airlines for Commercial Affairs, said, “Passengers travelling from Krakow are one of the largest groups of LOT travelers. We’ve prepared an offer that will make it possible for many of our Passengers to visit one of the world’s most unique and largest cities.”
Prices for a round-trip ticket are reported to start from PLN 699 (152 EUR).
The Polish flag carrier has also recently increased its flying network between Istanbul and Warsaw.The airline offers 17 flights per week between the Polish capital and Istanbul.
“The expansion of our flight network is still underway, and flights from Krakow to Istanbul are a route that is both attractive in terms of business matters and highly anticipated by our passengers”, Fijoł added.
Alliance partnerships
The new routes are being handled in cooperation with LOT’s Star Alliance partner, Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines has also recently revised its routes to Poland for the 2023 summer season. The Turkish flag carrier will also start a three times a-week service between Istanbul and Krakow on 01 May.
The Turkish Airlines route is reported to replace its previously planned Istanbul-Katowice service.
Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Monday’s flight will leave Istanbul at 18:20, arriving in Krakow at 19:30. Leaving for Istanbul again at 20:20. Wednesday and Friday’s flights operate in the mornings with departures from Istanbul at 07:20 and from Krakow at 09:20.
The combined schedules of Turkish and LOT mean Krakow and Istanbul are served by a direct link six days a week.
Radosław Włoszek, Chairman of the Management Board of Kraków Airport, said, “We’re thrilled about the widening of the flight network of our national carrier namely, LOT Polish Airlines, at the Krakow Airport.”
Istanbul is a tourism and business hotspot. LOT hails the city as a centre of culture and economy. The city spreads across the two continents of Europe and Asia and gives the city uniqueness and diversity.
As the largest city in Turkiye, the city attracts many tourists to its fabled historic locations, such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, Basilica Cistern, and Galata Tower.
“Krakow and Istanbul mean two very attractive cities for tourists, featuring not only beautiful, centuries-old history, but also centres of a global business that affect the economic potential of their regions,” Włoszek said.