Balkan Airlines posted a profit of nearly $60,000 in August, bringing the total for the period from May to September to $170,000, the management told a press conference on Friday. In May, the company resumed flights to 14 destinations.

In the beginning of 2001, all flights were suspended. Flights to London, Paris, Moscow, Tel Aviv and other destinations were resumed a few months later.

A Russian Tu-154 was scheduled to be leased from Slovak Airlines today. It was made in 1998 and is in excellent condition. Thus the fleet will consist of three Tu-154M planes, two An-14s, four An-12 cargo planes and one L410.

"There are Boeings on the winter schedule effective as of October 28, negotiations about which are under way," commercial director Rumen Ganev said. Balkan is currently negotiating reciprocal agreements for leasing a Boeing 767 with ANSET Australia Airlines, Lufthansa and a Norwegian company.

Balkan is also speaking with two London-based investors about the Boeing aircraft.

Japan's Tokuda and Scotland's Marshall Group are the companies with the most serious potential as investors in Balkan Airlines, the trustees told the press conference. The last receivables claims have been registered at the Sofia City Court and investment plans can be submitted until October 29. Ralitsa Topchieva, one of the two trustees, said three rehabilitation plans were being drafted, the idea being not to predetermine the investor.

"The rehabilitation plan envisages five main structural changes in Balkan Airlines, including the partial transformation of debt into equity, including debt to the state, the Air Traffic Services Authority, Sofia Airport and Bulstrad," Topchieva said.

Balkan Airlines owes a total of 230 million leva. The three major creditors are the state, to which 71.8 million leva are owed, the debt to Balkan Air Holding is 29.5 million leva, and Bulstrad is owed 24 million leva.