TAROM (Romanian pronunciation: [taˈrom]; legally Compania Națională de Transporturi Aeriene Române TAROM S.A.) is the flag carrier and oldest operating airline of Romania. Headquartered in Otopeni, near Bucharest, the airline operates its main hub at Henri Coandă International Airport. TAROM serves destinations across Europe and the Middle East and has been a member of the SkyTeam alliance since 2010.
The name TAROM is an acronym of Romanian: Transporturile Aeriene Române (Romanian Air Transport). The airline is owned by the Government of Romania and traces its origins to 1920, making it one of the oldest airlines in Europe. Since the 2020s, TAROM has undergone a restructuring programme that included fleet renewal and operational reforms aimed at improving its financial performance.
History
Early years
The history of the Romanian National Air Transport Company can be traced back to 1920, when CFRNA - (French-Romanian Company for Air Navigation) was founded. On 13 April 1920, the company registered its headquarters at 194 Rue Rivoli, in Paris. A decree issued on 26 April 1920 establishes Direcțiunea Aviației (The Directorate of Aviation), in the subordination of the Ministry of Communications. In the same year, the Kingdom of Romania offered CFRNA exploitation rights. The country offered the airline two aerodromes: one in Arad, and another one in Bucharest–Băneasa. The airline used French-built Potez 15 aircraft for its passenger/mail service between Paris and Bucharest via several cities in Central Europe. In 1925, the city of Galați became the first destination in Romania served by regular flights followed, from 24 June 1926, by an extended service to Iași and Chișinău. Ten de Havilland DH.9 and five Ansaldo A.300, in addition to the Potez aircraft, operated the service.
In 1928, the airline changed its name to SNNA (Serviciul Național de Navigație Aeriană, The National Service of Air Navigation). On 9 July 1930, the company adopted the name LARES (Liniile Aeriene Române Exploatate de Stat, Romanian Airlines Operated by the State) while 20 July 1937 saw the merger of LARES with its competitor, SARTA (Societatea Anonimă Română de Transporturi Aeriene).
State monopoly
Immediately after World War II, in 1945, when the Soviet Union had extended its influence across Eastern Europe, a new reorganization replaced LARES with TARS (Transporturi Aeriene Româno-Sovietice), jointly owned by the governments of Romania and the Soviet Union. Domestic operations were started from Bucharest (Băneasa Airport) on 1 February 1946, when TARS took overall air services and aircraft from LARES.
Over the following decade, the company's Soviet share was purchased by the Romanian government and, on 18 September 1954, the airline adopted the name of TAROM (Transporturi Aeriene Române, Romanian Air Transport). By 1960, TAROM was flying to a dozen cities across Europe. 1966 saw the operation of its first transatlantic flight. On 14 May 1974, it launched a regular service to New York City (John F. Kennedy International Airport).
Being part of the regional group of airlines within Eastern Bloc states meant that for much of its history, TAROM has operated Soviet-designed aircraft. These included the Lisunov Li-2, Ilyushin Il-14, Ilyushin Il-18 long-range turboprop, Ilyushin Il-62 long-range jet airliner, Antonov An-24 regional turboprop, and Tupolev Tu-154 medium-range tri-jet. As was the case with several other nations, the Il-62 was the first long-range jet airliner to be put into operation by Romania in 1973. Five examples (three Il-62 and two later version Il-62M) were owned by TAROM, which also leased the aircraft to other operators.
Exceptions to Soviet-built aircraft were made in 1968, when TAROM bought six BAC One-Eleven 400 aircraft for European and Middle Eastern destinations, and in 1974 when it acquired Boeing 707 aircraft to share its long-haul operations with the Il-62. Plans were made to acquire Vickers VC10 aircraft as well, but in the end, the Soviets did not allow it, and made them buy the Il-62 instead. With 59 aircraft in operation, in the late 1970s, TAROM had the largest fleet in the Eastern Bloc, after Aeroflot.
Transition
After the collapse of the communist regime in 1989, the airline, operating a fleet of 65 aircraft of six basic types, was able to acquire more Western-built jets. In 1992, TAROM bought 3 Airbus A310 planes, nicknamed: "Transilvania" (YR-LCA), "Moldova" (YR-LCB) and "Muntenia" (YR-LCC). By 1993, TAROM had introduced long-haul flights to Montreal and Bangkok using Ilyushin Il-62 and Airbus A310 aircraft. The YR-LCC Airbus A310 joined TAROM's fleet on 10 April 1994, to then crash near Balotești on 31 March 1995.
During the 1990s, TAROM replaced its long-haul fleet of Boeing 707s and IL-62s with Airbus A310s (the last Il-62 being sold in 1999).
Modernisation
TAROM is recovering from a difficult period that began in the 1990s when losses of up to $68 million per year were registered, caused by unprofitable routes. At the beginning of the new millennium, the airline initiated a programme that was aimed at restoring profitability. This was achieved by terminating loss-making intercontinental services. In 2001, the airline cancelled its non-profitable long-haul services to Bangkok and Montreal and also terminated services to its remaining intercontinental destinations of Chicago in 2002, and Beijing and New York City in 2003. TAROM terminated loss-making domestic services to Craiova, Tulcea, Caransebeș, and Constanța, and focused its activity on service to key destinations in Europe and the Middle East. TAROM has decided to focus its operations on Bucharest (Henri Coandă International Airport) (OTP) and Cluj-Napoca International Airport (CLJ), and initiated direct international flights from Sibiu International Airport. The first profitable year in the 2000s was 2004. By 2005, TAROM tried selling its A310 fleet three times, which was being preserved since 2003.
A fleet upgrade programme started in 2006 with the acquisition of four Airbus A318, three Boeing 737-800, and two ATR 72-500, which resulted in a fleet increase to 26 by 2009.
From 2003 until 2007, the airline spent €1 million per year to preserve its A310s "Moldova" and "Transilvania". In 2007, TAROM modernized its two Airbus A310 aircraft at the Airbus plant in Bordeaux. After being reconditioned, they were used in medium-haul flights, which were not successful.
The airline had a frequent-flyer programme "Smart Miles", which was turned into Flying Blue on 5 June 2010. Codeshare agreements with foreign partner airlines are in place for several international routes. On 25 June 2010, TAROM joined SkyTeam as the alliance's 13th member.
Starting with November 2012, in accordance with the Romanian state-company legislation, TAROM was led by a private manager, the Belgian Christian Heinzmann occupying the positions of CEO and Accountable Manager until March 2016. During Heinzmann's leadership, the company reduced its financial losses by more than 75%, grew its yearly passenger number to a record 2.4 million and stabilised its load-factor around 70%. However, broad reforms like the fleet renewal and harmonisation, as well as the establishment of profit centers such as the TAROM Maintenance and TAROM Charter services, were not accomplished due to a constant lack of a decision from the company's board of administrators.
On 12 September and 29 October 2016, TAROM retired their remaining two Airbus A310-300s after final flights from Madrid to Bucharest. The A310 aircraft were to be replaced with new smaller aircraft. In May 2017, TAROM received its first of two leased Boeing 737-800s. Another two ex-Malaysian Airlines 737-800 were added to the fleet in 2018 and a contract for five Boeing 737 MAX 8 was signed with deliveries stated to begin in 2023. On 27 December 2019, the Ministry of Transport announced that nine new ATR 72-600 leased from Nordic Aviation Capital for a ten year-period would replace the existent ATR 42-500 and 72-500, manufactured in 1999–2000 and 2009, respectively. TAROM received the first four aircraft in February 2020.
Restructuring
The COVID-19 pandemic caused TAROM to temporarily cease all scheduled operations from 25 March 2020. TAROM operated flights for the Romanian Government during the state of emergency, bringing medical equipment from China. After the state of emergency expired, TAROM resumed scheduled operations from May 2020.
In 2021, TAROM's then new CEO stated that none of the airline's current routes were profitable. In October 2022, it was reported that the operator of Henri Coandă International Airport, TAROM's home base, was considering legal action against the airline over unpaid fees exceeding €10 million, and also might suspend all services for the carrier.
In November 2024, the European General Court rejected a legal challenge by low-cost carrier Wizz Air against a capital injection provided by the Romanian government to TAROM. The aid, valued at €2 million, was approved by the European Commission as part of efforts to compensate TAROM for losses related to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Wizz Air argued that this financial support violated EU competition laws, but the court affirmed the European Commission’s decision, ruling that the subsidy was in compliance with EU state aid regulations.
Corporate affairs
Ownership
TAROM is a state-owned company, with shareholding structure as follows:
Business trends
Figures for recent years are shown below (for years ending 31 December):
Logo and livery
The TAROM logo, representing a swallow in flight, has been used on all TAROM aircraft since 1954. The 1970s livery had the logo on the tail painted in red, with a red cheatline. The livery introduced in the early 1990s (on the Airbus A310 aircraft) is an overall-white scheme with the titles and the tailfin painted in dark blue. The current colour scheme (introduced in 2006 on the Airbus A318 aircraft) is a slightly modified version of the previous one, with an oversized logo on the tailfin, and the engine pods also painted in dark blue.
In 2009, marking the airline's 55th anniversary, a Boeing 737-700 (YR-BGG "Craiova") was painted in a retro jet colour scheme, representing the airline's first livery used in the 1950s on Lisunov Li-2 aircraft.
TAROM Technical Division
TAROM's Technical Division provides aircraft maintenance services for the company's entire fleet and aircraft of other companies. It provides maintenance for Boeing 737, ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft in central and eastern Europe and include unscheduled and scheduled maintenance, repairs and spare parts.
Major maintenance is performed in the division's hangar, built between 1969 and 1972, with an area of 6,000 m2 (65,000 sq ft) and updated in 2000 to comply with EASA and FAA standards. The hangar can be used to maintain three to six aircraft, depending on their size. The hangar is equipped with a full MERO system for Boeing 737 docking.
The department also has inspection capacity for type C for Airbus A310 and A318 aircraft, total painting, interior cleaning, and modifications.
The technical department also provides safe storage facilities for spare parts and materials necessary for maintenance, dedicated spaces for chemicals, special tools and testing equipment, and quarantine spaces. It also provides conveyance services (packaging, preparation of documents, customs) and acceptance services (customs, disassembly, and reception inspection) for various substances and equipment.
In a dispute between TAROM and UK airline Jet2.com regarding failure to provide adequate maintenance services for Jet2.com's fleet and the latter's resulting failure to pay certain invoices, the High Court in England determined that TAROM's attempt to terminate the contract in 2007 for non-payment was invalid, and treated the termination as a repudiatory breach of the contract. Jet2.com were awarded damages.
Destinations
The airline operates flights to 50 destinations including charter and seasonal services in 22 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa including eight domestic destinations. The airline's flights to the USA ceased in 2003 and are now operated under a codeshare agreement with Air France via Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Alliances
In 2006, TAROM was scheduled to join SkyTeam as an associate member (sponsored by Alitalia), but its accession was postponed until 2008. On 7 May 2008, SkyTeam signed a SkyTeam Alliance Associate Adherence Agreement (SAAAA) with TAROM. On 22 June 2010, SkyTeam announced that it had renewed its membership program, thereby making TAROM a future full member of the alliance. On 25 June 2010, TAROM became a full member of SkyTeam.
Codeshare agreements
TAROM has codeshare agreements with the following airlines: