LOT Polish Airlines opens Warsaw-Bangkok flights, Poland's first scheduled direct link to Thailand

LOT Polish Airlines has launched its first scheduled direct service to Thailand. Flight LO65 from Warsaw landed at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on 8 October 2026, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed the inaugural arrival. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool led the delegation, joined by LOT executives and representatives of Airports of Thailand, Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.

The schedule has two phases. From 7 to 25 October, flights run three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. From 26 October through March 2027, the service rises to five weekly flights, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In the winter schedule that adds up to 1,260 inbound seats a week.

Timings are convenient for onward travel. LO65 leaves Warsaw Chopin at 15:45 and reaches Suvarnabhumi at 07:05 the next morning. The return, LO66, departs Bangkok at 09:05 and lands in Warsaw at 15:20. An early-morning arrival means many travellers can collect a vehicle and be on the road before the midday heat.

LOT is Poland's national carrier, founded in 1928 and a Star Alliance member since 2003. It serves more than 100 destinations and has previously flown seasonal charters to Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi. This is the first time it offers a scheduled direct route to Thailand, and Governor Thapanee noted that Bangkok is its first destination in Southeast Asia. She said TAT wants to turn stronger air access into higher tourism value through its Value over Volume and Partnership 360 strategies, drawing longer-stay travellers and spreading income more widely.

The numbers explain the interest. Thailand welcomed 237,570 Polish visitors in 2025, up 31.46% on the year. From 1 January to 30 September 2026, arrivals reached 164,807, up 12%, and TAT forecasts about 250,000 for the full year. Poles stay about 14 days on average, and favour Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Krabi and Ko Samui. TAT's Prague office is also hosting a 30-member familiarisation trip from 8 to 11 October, with six Polish travel operators, 18 media representatives and six LOT executives.

For a visitor on a two-week stay, a direct flight changes the shape of the trip. There is no connection to plan around, and the first days can go to the places Poles already choose, from the Gulf of Thailand coast near Rayong to the islands of the south. Many of those places are easiest to enjoy with your own wheels, which is where planning ahead starts to matter.

Balm Rentals is built for exactly this kind of traveller. The marketplace brings bikes, scooters and cars from licensed local rental owners into one app for iOS and Android and on the web, in the visitor's own language. Price, deposit and rental terms are shown before payment, so a traveller landing at 07:05 can book a vehicle from the airport rather than negotiate on arrival. It works alongside local owners and the wider industry effort to make tourist services clearer and easier to use.

Direct routes tend to bring first-time visitors and repeat travellers alike, and both groups benefit from knowing what they will pay and what they are agreeing to. As LOT's winter schedule builds up, Thailand's southern and eastern coasts should see more Polish families and independent travellers choosing to explore on their own.

Travellers heading to Thailand should check the latest entry requirements and local driving rules, including a valid licence for the vehicle type, before renting.