LOT Polish Airlines was the first airline in the world to launch commercial operations with the Embraer E170 back in March 2004. Over the period of 22 years, 10 aircraft of this type that joined the national carrier’s fleet carried 13.8 million passengers and completed nearly 300,000 flights.
The last Embraer E170, registration SP-LDH, concluded its LOT Polish Airlines tenure on 30 October 2026.
The first Embraer E170 in the carrier’s fleet, registration SP-LDA, arrived in Warsaw on 8 March 2004, following a ferry flight from Embraer’s manufacturing facilities in São José dos Campos, Brazil. En route to Poland, the plane made three stopovers: in Recife (eastern Brazil), Espargos (Cape Verde), and Málaga. LOT Polish Airlines was the first carrier in the world to introduce the E170 into commercial service. On 17 March 2004, SP-LDA operated its first passenger flight from Warsaw to Vienna. Powered by two General Electric engines, this particular aircraft could accommodate 70 passengers. It remained part of the LOT Polish Airlines fleet until 2014.
SP-LDA, the first Embraer E170 in LOT Polish Airlines’ fleet, photo by Jarosław Ksiądzyna
The Embraer E170 entered service just before Poland joined the European Union – at a time when smartphones were not an everyday commodity, and the manner in which passengers were planning their travels and communicating with airlines differed vastly from what we are used to today. LOT, however, was already maintaining an extensive network of connections from Warsaw to numerous European cities. The introduction of this modern regional aircraft marked a further step in the development of the carrier’s fleet and service offering.
More than 22 years later, the story of the E170 within the Polish carrier’s fleet is coming to an end. On 30 October, the final Embraer E170 – registered as SP-LDH – is performing its last passenger rotation on the Warsaw-Vienna-Warsaw route. This symbolic route marks the conclusion of an important chapter in the history of the fleet and serves as an opportunity to look back at the journey these exceptional aircraft have taken while flying for LOT.
Not long ago, we bid farewell to the fleet of Boeing 737 Classic planes at LOT, and today we are gradually parting ways with the well-known and beloved Embraer E-Jet family – aircraft that, for over two decades, have enabled us to connect Warsaw with cities across our region and the rest of Europe. Today, we are bidding farewell to the smallest member of this family: the Embraer E170 (registration SP-LDH), which will complete its final passenger rotation on a flight to Vienna. It is a symbolic moment that closes a specific chapter – for it was to Vienna, on 17 March 2004, that the first E170 in the LOT livery flew, marking the beginning of the global commercial service history for this model. On behalf of all the crews who flew these aircraft over the years, the mechanics who maintained them, and, most importantly, the millions of passengers who traveled on them – thank you for more than 22 years of reliable service under the LOT ‘s crane logo
Krzysztof Moczulski, spokesperson, LOT Polish Airlines
SP-LDH, the last Embraer E170 in LOT Polish Airlines’ fleet, photo by Jarosław Ksiądzyna
The Embraer E170 is a twin-engine, narrow-body jet manufactured by the Brazilian company Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica). It has a cruising speed of 871 kph and a range of 3,700 kilometers. The E170s serving in the LOT Polish Airlines fleet were configured to carry between 70 and 76 passengers. Over the course of 22 years, the Polish carrier operated 10 aircraft of this type. They transported a total of 13.8 million passengers, completed nearly 300,000 flights, and covered over 230 million kilometers across more than 455,000 flight hours.
The E170 was the first aircraft in the LOT Polish Airlines fleet to feature winglets – upturned wingtips designed to reduce air drag and, consequently, lower fuel consumption. It was also the first aircraft at LOT to utilize a fully electronic "fly-by-wire" flight control system. Embraer E170s served both domestic and European routes, including destinations such as Prague, Copenhagen, and Budapest.
One of the characteristic features of Embraer aircraft is their 2+2 cabin configuration – two places on either side of the aisle, with no middle seats. Passengers appreciated the seats with adjustable headrests and the spacious overhead compartments for carry-on luggage; the cabin, notably roomy for a regional aircraft, ensured a comfortable experience for both leisure and business travelers. The E170 proved highly effective on routes where both operational efficiency and passenger comfort were the highest priorities.
Specific aircraft also became memorable thanks to their unique liveries. In 2008, the aircraft registered as SP-LDC promoted the Lesser Poland (Małopolska) region by featuring the "Lady with an Ermine" painting. In 2014, SP-LDI – one of several LOT aircraft to do so – carried a livery dedicated to the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP). SP-LDH promoted the animated film "Planes: Fire & Rescue," while SP-LDF showcased a Polish confectionery brand, featuring a "Ptasie Mleczko" (marshmallow-like candy) livery. Two Embraer E170s – SP-LDC and SP-LDK – also sported a special Star Alliance livery.
SP-LDC in the “Lady with an Ermine” special livery and SP-LDK in the Star Alliance livery, photo by Jarosław Ksiądzyna
Over the years, they became a familiar sight at Chopin Airport - passengers encountered them on business trips, weekend getaways, and while connecting to further destinations. Now, the story of the Embraer E170s at LOT Polish Airlines is coming to an end. The last unit is leaving the fleet, closing a chapter that began back in March 2004. For some, these planes were simply a means of transport; for pilots and cabin crew, however, they were the aircraft on which they gained experience, completed hundreds of flights, and spent a significant portion of their professional lives. More than two decades of service have meant thousands of takeoffs and landings, millions of miles flown, and the stories of many people - pilots, cabin crew, mechanics, operations staff, and passengers - for whom the E170 became a part of their own personal aviation memories.
The retirement of the Embraer E170s, however, does not mark the end of the Brazilian manufacturer’s presence in the LOT Polish Airlines fleet. The airline continues to operate Embraer E175s, E190s, E195s, and the latest E195-E2 models, all of which remain a vital part of the LOT Polish Airlines route network.
Tags: LOT Polish Airlines
