LOT Polish Airlines is taking over air transport and medical evacuation flights (medevac flights) as part of rescEU, the European Union's (EU) civil protection programme. The Polish carrier has three aircraft on permanent standby for this purpose, which can be deployed as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). LOT Polish Airlines has signed a corresponding contract agreement with the Polish Government Agency for Strategic Reserves (RARS), which coordinates the provision of the aircraft and the flights on behalf of the European Commission.

The three aircraft comprise two multipurpose airplanes, each of which can carry at least 65 passengers or 19 tonnes of cargo. The third plane is used for medevac flights and can carry at least 16 recumbent patients or six ones who require intensive medical care during the flight. The three aircraft have a medium range so that they can reach all destinations within Europe and neighbouring regions without any stopovers.

UCPM regulates increased cooperation within the EU in the event of disasters, for example natural disasters, massive health threats or humanitarian crises. The task of rescEU is to ensure that reserves are available. In addition to the flight disposition, this also includes field hospitals and medical care services, for example, which can be activated as a ‘last resort’ if member states are unable to respond adequately to a threat themselves. Poland is currently the only EU member state that has rescEU flight capacities in this context.