Polish flag-carrier LOT is to open long-haul services from the Hungarian capital Budapest, operating to two US cities.

It will station a Boeing 787 at Budapest from May next year, the Star Alliance carrier states.

LOT will operate to both New York and Chicago.

It says it is opening the routes in response to "enormous demand" for services.

Hungary has no scheduled flights to the USA, according to FlightGlobal's routes database. While the country has a well-established short-haul operator in Wizz Air, its flag-carrier Malev collapsed five years ago.

No transatlantic services to the USA from Hungary have existed since 2011, states LOT.

"Our strategy assumes taking up every business opportunity and we cannot waste such potential," says LOT chief Rafal Milczarski.

"Transatlantic connections from Budapest will supplement the offer of flights from Warsaw – however, they will not be in direct competition."

LOT says it will operate the Budapest-New York route four-times weekly, while Chicago will be served twice-weekly. Both routes will be served year-round.

Source: Cirium Dashboard