Polish flag carrier LOT confirmed last month that it will place a firm order for ten 70-seat Embraer 170s. LOT’s supervisory board approved the estimated $200 million deal on January 10, finally settling a hard-fought competition between the Brazilian manufacturer and its Canadian counterpart, Bombardier. Scheduled for delivery early next year, the first of the 70-seat jets will augment a fleet of fourteen 50-seat Embraer
ERJ-145s already spread throughout LOT’s network of 12 domestic and 49 international destinations. LOT’s regional arm, EuroLOT, also operates eight ATR 72s and five

ATR 42s. The board also approved options on another 11 Embraer 170s and/or Embraer 190s. Last year government-controlled LOT joined the Star Alliance in an effort to maintain its dominant position in central Europe after its former partner, Swissair’s Qualiflyer group, went bankrupt. Although the government has said it wants to float a majority of its 68-percent holding this year, the company first needs to complete its restructuring and find a buyer for the 25-percent stake formerly held by Swissair.