LOT Polish Airlines launches a regular connection between Gdańsk and Istanbul

14 January 2026

The inaugural flight connecting Gdańsk and Istanbul took off on 14 January 2026.
The Gdańsk-Istanbul route is served four times a week, with a flight time of approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.
The connection provides direct access to one of the most fascinating cities in the world, which is also a key business hub at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

LOT Polish Airlines has launched a new connection between Gdańsk and Istanbul, providing passengers from northern Poland with direct access to one of the most dynamically growing cities of the world. Four times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays – flights departing from Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport at 4:35 p.m. take travellers from the Baltic coast straight to the Bosphorus. Evening return flights from Istanbul depart at 10:20 p.m. and land in Gdańsk at 11:00 p.m. (local times). The flight time is approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.

The launch of the Gdańsk-Istanbul connection is an important element of our consistent strategy aiming to strengthen the presence of LOT Polish Airlines at the country’s regional airports. Travelers from the Pomerania region will enjoy direct and convenient access to one of the most fascinating cities in the world, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, where history preserved in palaces, mosques, and the alleys of the old town intertwines with the dynamism of a modern metropolis bustling with life on the Bosphorus. Istanbul is currently one of the key business and logistics centres connecting Europe with Asia. Therefore, the new route makes it easier to organize meetings or participate in trade fairs and conferences. It also fosters better business relations. The afternoon departure from Gdańsk and the evening return from Istanbul allow our passengers to conveniently plan even short, intensive business trips.

Robert Ludera, Registered Representative and Director of the Network Department at LOT Polish Airlines

After many years of hard work, countless meetings, talks and negotiations, and thanks to the involvement of many individuals, we are launching today the first direct connection between Gdańsk and Istanbul. This is a great day for Gdańsk Airport, as it underscores the many years of excellent cooperation with LOT Polish Airlines. Istanbul is a very attractive tourist destination for our passengers. It is also a strategic business, cultural and logistics hub that connects Europe with Asia. Gdańsk is provided with direct access to a true gateway to the East – the second largest airport in Europe and the seventh largest transfer hub worldwide. This significantly increases the attractiveness of Gdańsk on the international travel and economic map.

Tomasz Kloskowski, CEO, Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport

From the Baltic Sea to the Bosphorus

LOT’s new route connects cities that, at first glance, seem to belong to completely different worlds. On the one hand, Istanbul – a metropolis of millions that almost never sleeps, with a dense network of alleyways, bazaars and ferries travelling across the Bosphorus, teeming with movement and sound at any time of the day and night. On the other hand, there is the more intimate city of Gdańsk, with its atmosphere of a northern European port town, where the rhythm of the day is determined by strolls along the Motława River, numerous cafes and a slower pace of life.

LOT Polish Airlines materials

Water remains the common denominator of both destinations – in Istanbul, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn have been designating, for centuries, the trade and migration routes connecting Europe with Asia, while in Gdańsk, the Baltic Sea and the Motława River served as a gateway for ships arriving from all over the continent and contributing to the wealth and multicultural nature of the city. Both destinations witnessed numerous groundbreaking events: Istanbul as the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and Gdańsk as one of the most important cities of the Hanseatic League and a key player shaping the history of Central Europe.

This history is still very much present and tangible throughout the city. Take a leisurely stroll along Długa and Mariacka streets in Gdańsk to admire cafes, galleries, and bookstores operating in historic tenement houses dating back hundreds of years. The medieval Crane, once used by port workers to unload ships, still towers proudly along the banks of the Motława River. Today, it is a popular attraction for the city’s residents and tourists alike, with cruise ships docking precisely at the location where goods from all over the world were once unloaded. The Gdańsk Shipyard – a symbol of the fight for freedom that took place in the 20th century – has now transformed into a vibrant and creative district, where industrial heritage harmoniously blends with modern culture.

LOT Polish Airlines materials

In Istanbul, the links between history and everyday life are even more evident. Thousands of people pass by Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque every day on their way to work, a prayer or a shopping mall. The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar (the famous Egyptian Bazaar) have operated at the same locations for hundreds of years now and still remain the commercial heart of the city. Bosphorus ferries continue to connect various neighbourhoods as they did in Ottoman and Byzantine times, and the former waterfront palaces of the sultans now host numerous museums and offer great space for walks and cultural events.

Istanbul delights with its oriental splendour, while Gdańsk attracts with an elegant, northern European vibe. However, both destinations share the same port city DNA: they exhibit an extraordinary ability to connect the past with the present. Their histories are not confined to museum exhibitions only. Instead, they are the part of everyday life – on one’s way to work or while enjoying coffee by the water. Tickets for flights from Gdańsk to Istanbul are available via all of LOT’s sales channels, including the lot.com website, LOT Contact Center and LOT Travel offices.

Book your flight from Gdańsk to Istanbul

LOT Polish Airlines is a modern carrier connecting Central and Eastern Europe with the rest of the world. LOT’s offer includes direct long-haul flights to airports in the United States, Canada, India, Japan, and South Korea. The Polish carrier has been consistently increasing the number of its flights to those destinations, thus strengthening its position in Central and Eastern Europe. It operates its long haul flights with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the most advanced wide-body aircraft in the world. Present in the sky since 1929, the Polish carrier is the 11th oldest airline worldwide and one of the most internationally recognisable Polish brands.

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