GARUDA AND LOT AGREE ON FLIGHT COOPERATION

London, May 12 (Antara) - The country's flag carrier Garuda Indonesia agreed on flight cooperation with Polish airline LOT to open direct flights between Jakarta and Warsaw. Garuda President Director M. Arif Wibowo had met with LOT's chief executive Sebastian Mikosz in Warsaw to discuss details of the agreement. The two sides want that the agreement could be realized soon, Counselor Roos Diana Iskandar at the Indonesian embassy in Warsaw told Antara news agency here on Tuesday. Arif Wibowo was in Warsaw accompanying the Indonesian Trade Minister Rahmat Gobel during his recent visit to Poland. The two airlines would have code share or Special Priority Agreement (SPA). Arif Wibowo said currently Garuda has served flights between Jakarta and two cities in Europe -- London and Amsterdam -- and hopes to expand its operations in the region. Based on a study Poland is another profitable country of destination in Europe, he said "Garuda is ready to sign SPA with LOT," he said. Poland is strategically located and it could be hub for Central and and East Europe including Scandinavia, he said. Sebastian Mikosz said he was pleased with the meeting that could lead to immediate cooperation . "The route is promising and would mutually benefit the two airlines," he said. He said LOT is strengthening its fleet and plans to expand operation to Asia . He said last year LOT reported US$26 million net profit, the first in seven years and the profit was 40 percent higher than expected.