LOT considers cancelling B737MAX and B787 lease-orders

According to Polish aviation news site Pasazer, LOT is considering cancelling pending-lease orders for seven B737-8s and two B787-9s. Like many airlines, LOT is impacted by the Corona-pandemic and foresees a slower return to pre-pandemic passenger demand. As the deliveries of the Boeings have been delayed due to the known technical issues at Boeing, LOT can scrap the lease-orders without penalties, which is an attractive option in these times.

All nine aircraft have already been produced. The seven B737-8s are on order with Air Lease Corporation (one) and ALAFCO (six), while the B787-9s are on order with Air Lease Corporation. The whereabouts of the aircraft is, according to our information, as follow:

• SP-LVE B737-8 (60388), stored at Renton (WA)
• SP-LVG B737-8 (43973), stored at Moses Lake (WA)
• SP-LVH B737-8 (43975), stored at Kelly Field (TX)
• SP-LVI B737-8 (43974), stored at Kelly Field (TX)
• SP-LVN B737-8 (61862), stored at Moses Lake (WA)
• SP-LVO B737-8 (62533), stored at Moses Lake (WA)
• SP-LVP B737-8 (61864), stored at Moses Lake (WA)
• SP-LSH B787-9 (66408), stored at Victorville (CA)
• SP-LSI B787-9 (62177), stored at Victorville (CA)

Currently, LOT's fleet consists of six B737-800s, five B737-8s, eight B787-8s, seven B787-9s, twelve DHC-8-400s, six ERJ170s, ten ERJ175s, four ERJ190s and fifteen ERJ195s. Of these, the DHC-8-400s are set to be retired by the end of 2022.

Photo by LOT.