LOT Retires the Embraer E170: Launch Customer Operates Final Flight After More Than Two Decades
Flight LO222 from Vienna to Warsaw marks the definitive retirement of the Embraer E170 from LOT Polish Airlines. This operation brings to a close a historic journey spanning more than 22 years with the aircraft type that transformed the carrier’s regional connectivity and commercially launched the successful E-Jet family worldwide.
Closing of a Historic Chapter Between Vienna and Warsaw
On the afternoon of October 30, the arrival in Warsaw of flight LO222 from Vienna formally closes an operational chapter that began on this very same route.
On March 17, 2004, LOT became the world’s first airline to operate a commercial passenger flight with the Embraer E170, flying the inaugural service between Warsaw and Vienna. The Polish flag carrier’s partnership with the Brazilian airframer had commenced five years earlier, in 1999, with the induction of its first Embraer Regional Jet 145.
Arrival of the E170 and a Quantum Leap in Passenger Experience
To meet surging demand on short- and medium-haul routes while safeguarding operating margins, the airline placed an order in 2003 for ten E170 aircraft in a 70-seat configuration, alongside options for an additional eleven airframes.
The first unit joined the fleet on March 4, 2004, and, following several weeks of proving runs, was promptly integrated into scheduled commercial service. The E170 cabin architecture introduced unprecedented levels of passenger comfort for the regional sector:
- Four-abreast seating: The 2-2 cross-section eliminated the middle seat, ensuring every passenger had either aisle or window access.
- Cabin dimensions: Stand-up cabin height allowing the vast majority of passengers to walk down the aisle comfortably upright.
- Expanded baggage capacity: Significantly larger overhead stowage bins compared to previous-generation regional aircraft.
Foundation of the E-Jet Family and Regional Fleet Evolution
The pioneering introduction of the E170 paved the way for LOT to operate the entire first-generation narrowbody E-Jet family. Over the years, the carrier flew all four original variants:
- Embraer E170
- Embraer E175
- Embraer E190
- Embraer E195
Two decades after the original series entered commercial service, LOT took delivery of its first Embraer E195-E2 in 2024, further consolidating its technological ties with the manufacturer.
Despite the retirement of the E170 fleet, LOT will continue operating its E175, E190, and E195 aircraft alongside the incoming E195-E2s. Concurrently, the airline continues to reshape its short-haul network toward a new phase of regional fleet renewal and consolidation, which centers on the planned acquisition of 40 Airbus A220 aircraft scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2031.
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