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)