Polish flag-carrier LOT is suspending all international flights from both Poland and Hungary after the Polish government imposed border restrictions on foreign travellers.
Central European budget carrier Wizz Air is also being hit hard by the measure, suspending Polish services accounting for some 20% of its capacity.
The government says it is “closing the borders” of the country for 10 days to foreigners from 15 March. Only Polish citizens will be allowed to enter, and they will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
“We are suspending international passenger air and rail connections,” it adds, although cargo services will be permitted to continue.
LOT says it is complying with the government’s directive.
Wizz Air says the restriction “forces” it to halt Polish flights “until further notice”.
The airline, whose financial year ends on 31 March, says the various government measures in Europe mean the duration and impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the carrier is “difficult to predict”.
But it points out that the carrier has a “strong balance sheet” with €1.3 billion in free cash, as of the end of December, and its low-cost model provides a “solid foundation and a significant competitive advantage” in the current situation.
