Merpati expects profit

Merpati expects profit

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned airline Merpati Nusantara expects to
book Rp 100 billion (US$12.5 million) in profit this year, up
from over Rp 60 billion earned last year, company president Wahyu
Hidayat said on Wednesday.

"The projection is based on the fact that we have until June
to net a profit of about Rp 50 billion," he was quoted by Antara
as saying after signing an agreement with Bank Bukopin.

Under the agreement, Bank Bukopin will provide a payment
gateway for sales of Merpati tickets on the Internet.

Wahyu said Merpati was optimistic about seeing good business
this year because it had succeeded in securing moderate profit
last year after being in the red for years. (cst)