LOT Polish Airlines will enter the Saudi Arabian market with flights to Riyadh starting next year.

From June 4, 2024, the carrier will open service between Poland's Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) and Riyadh’s King Khalid International (RUH). The route will be flown 3X-weekly with a Boeing 737-8 aircraft. Expected flight time is 6 hr. 30 min.

Saudi Arabia in June 2023 added the European Union to its e-visa system, a move LOT says helped drive the decision to start the WAW-RUH route.

LOT says in a statement that it “seeks to strengthen its position in Central and Eastern Europe, this time … offering new business opportunities on the Arabian Peninsula.”

“The strategic expansion of our global route network takes into account the needs and desires of our passengers … That is why we are happy that Saudi Arabia is opening up to tourism, best evidenced by … easier entry for European Union citizens," LOT CEO Michał Fijoł says.

"I believe that Riyadh will be an interesting destination for people who like to explore new, diverse places. At the same time, due to growing economic cooperation and a large number of investments, Saudi Arabia is a promising market for Polish business,” Fijoł adds.