Quick summary
LOT Polish Airlines launches four-weekly nonstop service from Warsaw (WAW) to Almaty (ALA) on May 31, 2026, using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Introductory one-way fares start at $560 including checked baggage. The route operates Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday during summer, dropping to three-weekly Monday/Wednesday/Friday in winter. This is LOT’s second Kazakhstan destination after Astana and the only direct link from Warsaw to Almaty.
No competing airline flies this corridor nonstop — travelers currently connect via Istanbul or Frankfurt at $650–$700 roundtrip. The new service cuts travel time by 2–4 hours and creates single-ticket Star Alliance connections from nine European cities and US hubs. Bookings are open now; launch fare promotions typically appear 30–60 days before departure.
LOT Polish Airlines filed schedule data for a new Warsaw–Almaty route starting late May 2026, creating the first nonstop link between Poland and Kazakhstan’s largest city. The service begins May 31, 2026, with four weekly frequencies during the summer season and a winter reduction to three flights per week starting October.
Travelers from Europe and North America gain a faster routing to Almaty. The nonstop flight takes 6.5 hours eastbound and 7.5 hours westbound, shaving 2–4 hours off current one-stop options via Istanbul or Frankfurt.
The route targets business travelers and tourists visiting Kazakhstan’s commercial hub. LOT’s existing Astana service shows strong load factors post-2021, and bilateral trade between Poland and Kazakhstan grew 18% in the first half of 2025. A pilot visa-waiver program for Polish business travelers supports the expansion.
Schedule and aircraft details
Flight LO197 departs Warsaw at 22:40, arriving Almaty at 08:00 the next morning. The return LO198 leaves Almaty at 09:20, landing Warsaw at 13:40 the same day. Summer frequencies run Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Winter service drops to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
LOT will use a Boeing 737 MAX 8 configured with 174 seats — 16 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2 layout and 158 economy seats. The narrowbody aircraft is smaller than the widebodies typically used on longer European routes, but the nonstop routing eliminates layover time.
| Flight | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LO197 | WAW 22:40 | ALA 08:00+1 | 6h 20m | 4x weekly (summer) |
| LO198 | ALA 09:20 | WAW 13:40 | 7h 20m | 4x weekly (summer) |
| LO197/198 | — | — | — | 3x weekly (winter) |
The late Warsaw departure enables same-day connections from nine European cities including Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich. Star Alliance partners United and Lufthansa offer single-ticket bookings from US hubs like Chicago, Newark, and Los Angeles. The official LOT press release confirms tickets are on sale now for travel starting May 31.
Introductory one-way fares begin at 303,500 KZT (approximately $560), including 8kg carry-on and 23kg checked baggage. Roundtrip pricing has not been published, but launch promotions typically appear 30–60 days before the first departure. Air Traveler Club’s airline promo monitoring tracks LOT campaigns in near real-time and flags limited-time fare windows within hours of activation.
Travelers seeking flights to Kazakhstan from Europe now have a direct option that avoids the Istanbul or Frankfurt hubs most European carriers use for Central Asian connections.
Flight deals
most people never see
Our AI monitors 150+ airlines for pricing anomalies that traditional search engines miss. Air Traveler Club members save $650 per trip per person on average: see how it works.
Each deal saves 40–80% vs. regular fares:
Why this route works now
LOT’s Warsaw hub sits at the geographic midpoint between Western Europe and Central Asia, making it a natural connection point for travelers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland heading east. The late evening departure from Warsaw allows passengers to connect from afternoon flights originating in those cities, then arrive in Almaty early morning — a schedule that maximizes business travel utility.
Kazakhstan’s economy has grown steadily since 2021, with Almaty serving as the country’s financial and commercial center despite Astana holding the capital designation. Bilateral trade between Poland and Kazakhstan increased 18% in the first half of 2025, driven by energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. A pilot visa-waiver program for Polish business travelers reduces entry friction, making short business trips more practical.
LOT’s Astana route, launched in 2021 and resumed post-COVID, demonstrates that demand exists for direct Kazakhstan service. The airline’s decision to add Almaty — a larger city with more diverse travel demand — suggests confidence that the market can support two routes. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 deployment keeps operating costs lower than widebody aircraft, allowing LOT to test demand without overcommitting capacity.
For context on securing the best fares when new routes launch, see our guide on how to lock in launch promotions before the crowd.
Booking and connection strategy
Tickets are on sale now at LOT.com, with the introductory $560 one-way fare available for immediate booking. Launch promotions typically appear 30–60 days before the first departure — in this case, expect fare drops around late March or early April 2026.
- Set fare alerts on Google Flights for the Warsaw–Almaty route. Track both LOT direct fares and Star Alliance partner pricing from your origin city.
- Book Star Alliance connections through United or Lufthansa if you’re departing from North America. Single-ticket bookings protect you if the inbound flight delays — separate tickets do not.
- Target Tuesday or Thursday departures during summer for maximum frequency. Winter service drops to three weekly flights, reducing schedule flexibility.
- Check the Boeing 737 MAX 8 seatmap on LOT’s website before selecting seats. The 16 business class seats use a 1-2 configuration with lie-flat capability, but economy pitch is standard narrowbody density.
Watch: LOT’s promotional calendar typically aligns with Star Alliance campaigns. If United or Lufthansa run transatlantic sales in Q1 2026, LOT often matches with discounted European connections — stack those with the Almaty launch fare for maximum savings.
Questions? Answers.
What connections does this route enable from US hubs?
Star Alliance partners United and Lufthansa offer single-ticket bookings from Chicago (ORD), Newark (EWR), Los Angeles (LAX), and other US hubs through Warsaw to Almaty. The late 22:40 Warsaw departure allows same-day connections from afternoon transatlantic arrivals. Single-ticket bookings protect you if the inbound flight delays — the airline must rebook you at no cost. Separate tickets do not offer this protection.
How does the Boeing 737 MAX 8 compare for comfort on a 6.5-hour flight?
The 737 MAX 8 is a narrowbody aircraft with 174 seats — 16 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2 configuration and 158 economy seats. Business class offers full flat-bed capability, but economy uses standard narrowbody pitch (typically 30–31 inches). The aircraft is smaller and denser than the widebodies used on longer European routes, but the nonstop routing eliminates 2–4 hours of layover time compared to one-stop options via Istanbul or Frankfurt.
When should I expect launch fare promotions to appear?
Launch promotions typically appear 30–60 days before the first departure. For a May 31, 2026 launch, expect fare drops around late March or early April 2026. LOT’s promotional calendar often aligns with Star Alliance campaigns — if United or Lufthansa run transatlantic sales in Q1 2026, LOT may match with discounted European connections. Set fare alerts on Google Flights and monitor LOT’s newsroom for official announcements.
Does this route operate year-round?
Yes, but frequency drops in winter. Summer service (May–October) runs four times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Winter service (October–April) reduces to three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The schedule change reflects lower demand during Kazakhstan’s colder months, when temperatures in Almaty regularly drop below freezing.
How does this compare to existing one-stop options via Istanbul?
Turkish Airlines dominates the Warsaw–Almaty corridor with one-stop connections via Istanbul, typically priced at $700 roundtrip. The connection adds 2–4 hours to total travel time and introduces layover risk — missed connections, lost baggage, and schedule changes. LOT’s nonstop eliminates those risks and currently undercuts Turkish’s pricing by roughly 20% with the introductory $560 one-way fare. Roundtrip pricing will determine whether the cost advantage holds once promotional fares expire.
