LOT Polish Airlines Now Accepts Bitcoin

LOT Polish Airlines is now accepting bitcoin payments, meaning the digital currency can be used to pay for flights to more than 60 global destinations.

Tickets can be purchased on LOT's desktop and mobile websites. LOT does not accept directly, but exchanges the digital currency for fiat using an unnamed payment service provider, the media outlet said.

LOT now accepts bitcoin alongside payment methods including American Express, PayPal, MasterCard and Visa.

Jiri Marek, executive director of sales and distribution for the company, said the decision demonstrates how LOT is open to "every client need" as well as innovations in the travel industry.

Marek said:

"Many of our customers are shopping online, including flights. It is only a matter of time before virtual currency payments will become as popular as credit card use nowadays. We saw this potential."

With the decision, LOT becomes the latest eastern European air carrier to accept bitcoin, following airBaltic in July 2014 and Air Lituanica in August of last year. Mexico's TAR later became the first air carrier in Latin America to accept bitcoin in June.

In more developed markets, Bitnet recently inked a partnership with UATP aimed at encouraging airlines to accept bitcoin, though no integrations have been announced as a result of that deal.

Image credit: Senohrabek / Shutterstock.com

DISCLOSURE

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.

Pete Rizzo

Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.