Szymany with LOT 2016.10.01 LO3791/3792

Some time after my first visit in Olsztyn  LOT announced  direct flights from Warsaw to Szymany. The idea itself appeared to be grotesque. A very short flight, 3 times per week, in the middle of the day. Hell, let's go! As the flights operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only the last one was available for me. Bought the tickets for a flight there and back on the same day. It also was the last day the flight was in operation. The fun begun before the first flight. Check-in for the flight to SZY was easy and quick, as usual. But then I needed a boarding pass for the return flight (25 minutes between arriving and departing from Szymany and 30 minutes before the flight check-in closes). Not possible on-line, not possible at the check-in in Warsaw. Hoped it might be possible at the transfer center. No, it wasn't :D Yet still, with the help of the transfer desk agent I was rather sure I would return with easy. After searching here and there, asking a couple of supervisors, DCS and more a phone call had to me made directly to Szymany. They said that the boarding pass will be waiting for me at the check-in counter after my arrival. On both flights there was no more than 15 passengers and that was good number for that route.

01 October 2016
LO3791 (1315-1410)WAW-SZY
SP-EQK Bombardier Q400

Quickly passed the security check and headed for the Transfer Center. After doing what I had to do there I then waited at the gate for boarding in some pleasant company. The flight itself didn't even take 40 minutes from stand to stand (full video without any cuts available lower) which resulted in a ahead of time arrival.

Up we go.

Olsztyn-Mazury Airport, SZY-KRK-WAW

After testing Radom Airport earlier this year with CSA, I decided to test another new polish airport. Olsztyn - Mazury, or maybe it's better to say Szczytno - Szymany? Anyway the official name is Olsztyn - Mazury even though the airport is situated quite a long ride from Olsztyn itself, nearby Szymany. A polish company Sprintair, known previously for their flights from Zielona Góra to Warsaw, decided to open at first two routes from SZY, Berlin and Cracow. All the flights operated with a Saab 340 plane. It wasn't hard to create an itinerary that would fit me, so after little thought I bought the tickets and was ready for a new experience. Getting for the morning departure wasn't hard thanks to the train connection from the city center and returning home from KRK is easiest by air. Easy? Yes. I just had to take enough margin for possible delays caused by weather that could make me loose my flight to Warsaw, 2 hours sounded good.

02 March 2016
SRN701 (0830-1005) SZY-KRK
SP-KPR S340

As said before I got to the airport by train. It arrived on-time, around one hour prior departure at the airport station. I was not the only passenger :) a walk to the airport, check-in easily with the kind ground staff, get my boarding pass and still have a lot of time for some pictures in and outside the terminal. The building itself is very appealing, has a nice design that fits the area and current needs of the airport. Inside there is a viewing area with soft couches to sit on and look at the apron. Not much traffic that day. Inside you'll also find a couple of kiosks landside and, IIRC, two shops airside. There will be a total of 11 passengers (33 seats) on my flight. Boarding commences and quickly all of us air on the apron, most taking pictures. The weather is wintery, snow is snowing, no signs of sun around. I take my seat (1C) and we have to wait for de-icing before we may taxi out to the runway and depart for Cracow. During the flight we are served a Princessa bar and a glass of water. After no time we land in Cracow, de-board to the bus which will take us to the terminal. As I have 2 hours to my next flight I go for a walk around to have a look how the airport has changed since my last visit and the changes are rather big. The new terminal (well old, but very refurbished) is almost completed, a direct bridge to the car park and train station is available. Changes are very positive! After they finish all the works all should look quite nice, I'd say. Overall the flight from SZY to KRK was pleasant, quick, very Saab like, quieter at the rear and so on. A video of the interior is available down. For the small airport in Szymany I wish the best, currently they have a flight to Warsaw with LOT, a connection to Munich and Wizz is said to open a couple of routes. Will have to try the direct link WAW-SZY.