LOT posts bumper 2006 profit thanks to sale of assets

"Although there is fog, there is someone behind the wheel and the plane will land safely," ensured LOT's financial director Piotr Ikanowicz. Reality is different as the enterprise is awaiting yet another restructuring related to cost cutting. Company representatives said that although competition from budget airlines is fierce, LOT offers more frequent flights at different times of the day, which is of great importance for corporate clients. The results for last year were boosted by sale of assets not related to aviation, thanks to which the carrier made a profit of zł.539 million. Without the sales of these assets the profit would have been well below zł.100 million. This year, LOT hopes to increase the number of passengers by 14%, while its subsidiary Centralwings by 33%. (Puls Biznesu, p. 10) A.K.