LOT Polish Airlines has pushed back the start of its new Warsaw-Chopin – Tenerife South route from the end of October to 20 December 2026. The adjustment, reflected in the carrier’s reservation system on 5 October, means the inaugural flight will now coincide with the Christmas-New-Year peak rather than the opening of the IATA winter season. The service will run until 4 April 2027 with between three and five weekly frequencies depending on holiday demand. Industry observers note that the postponement comes amid stiff competition on Polish–Canary Islands leisure traffic. Wizz Air already operates year-round services from Warsaw to Tenerife, often at lower average fares. By entering the market later in the season, LOT avoids the shoulder-period load-factor risk while keeping capacity available for high-yield North-American flights (notably Miami—see separate story) during November. For tour operators, the change requires quick itinerary tweaks. Package holidays originally scheduled for early November departures must be re-routed via other carriers or shifted to December. Corporate travel managers should alert employees planning winter off-sites or incentive trips to the Canaries that non-stop LOT inventory will not be available until just before Christmas. Passengers with existing tickets will be offered re-booking at no extra cost or full refunds, in line with EU261 obligations. Mobility professionals should monitor further schedule updates, as LOT has left open the option of adding extra ad-hoc rotations if peak-season demand outstrips capacity. Strategically, the Canaries remain attractive for Polish leisure and “workation” travellers seeking visa-free EU sun destinations. Despite the delay, LOT’s entry bolsters connectivity between Poland and Spain’s outermost region and could pressure incumbent low-cost carriers to sustain promotional fares into early 2027.
Source: Hubigo Travel News
