LOT posts zł 36 million net profits in first two Q‘s of 2003

The first two quarters saw Polish Airlines LOT post zł. 36.11 million in net profits with operational profits of zł. 9.6 million, the company announced yesterday. In the months from January to February, LOT carried 173.000 more passengers than in 2002. Comparing to the first seven months of this year LOT serviced 1.995 million passengers. This means a 9.5% increase in comparison with 2002. In March the airline said it intended to achieve profit on basic activities. In related news, LOT has been granted permission to launch passenger and transportation flights to Basra airport in Iraq. According to unofficial reports, the Iraqi's agreed to only one flight per week. (www.onet.pl; Puls Biznesu, p. 5) A.Z.