TAROM

"Tarom" redirects here. For other uses, see Tarom (disambiguation).
TAROM Romanian Air Transport
TAROM Transporturile Aeriene Române
IATA
RO
ICAO
ROT
Callsign
TAROM
Founded 1920 as CFRNA
Commenced operations 18 September 1954
Hubs Henri Coandă International Airport
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer program Flying Blue
Airport lounge Departures Lounge
Alliance SkyTeam
Fleet size 23
Destinations 53
Headquarters Otopeni, Ilfov County, Romania
Key people Christian Edouard Heinzmann, CEO
Revenue Increase 247 million € (2013)
Operating income Increase -29,5 million € (2013)
Website tarom.ro

S.C. Compania Națională de Transporturi Aeriene Române TAROM S.A., doing business as TAROM, is the flag carrier and oldest currently operating airline of Romania, based in Otopeni, with its headquarters and its main hub at Henri Coandă International Airport. It is currently the largest airline operating in Romania based on fleet size, international destinations, international flights and second largest measured by passengers carried, behind Wizz Air.

The brand name is an acronym for Romanian: Transporturile Aeriene ROMâne (Romanian Air Transport). Over ninety-seven percent (97.05%) of TAROM is owned by the Romanian Government (Ministry of Transport). The airline transported almost 2.2 million passengers in 2013, with an average load factor of 66%. The airline joined SkyTeam on 25 June 2010.

History

The beginnings

Romania's first national airline was founded in 1920 under the name CFRNA - (French-Romanian Company for Air Navigation). 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 Galaţi became the first destination in Romania served by regular flights followed, from 24 June 1926, by an extended service to Iaşi and Chişinău. 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 Naţional de Navigaţie Aeriană (The National Air Navigation Service). In 1930, the company adopted the name LARES - Liniile Aeriene Române Exploatate de Stat (Romanian Air Line State Run) while 1937 saw the merger of LARES with its competitor, SARTA (Societatea Anonimă Română de Transporturi Aeriene).[1]

Post-World War II

TAROM BAC 1-11 operating a scheduled flight to London Heathrow in 1971
TAROM Ilyushin Il-18D operating a holiday flight at Manchester Airport in 1988

After World War II, when the Soviet Union had extended its influence across Eastern Europe, the airline TARS (Transporturi Aeriene Româno-Sovietice) was established on 8 August 1945, jointly owned by the governments of Romania and the Soviet Union. Domestic operations were started from Bucharest (Băneasa Airport) on 1 February 1946. The company's Soviet share was purchased by Romania 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 planes. These included the Li-2, Ilyushin Il-14, Ilyushin Il-18 long-range turboprop, Ilyushin Il-62 long-range jet airliner, Antonov An-24 regional turboprop, and the Tupolev Tu-154 medium-range tri-jet. As was the case with a number of other nations, the Il-62 was the first long-range jet airliner to be put into operation by Romania (1973). Five examples (three Il-62 and two later version Il-62M with a range of 10,000 km) were owned by TAROM, which also leased the planes to other operators.

An exception to Soviet-built planes was made in 1968, when TAROM bought the BAC One Eleven for European and Middle East destinations, and in 1974 when it acquired Boeing 707 aircraft to share its long-haul operations with the Il-62. In 1978, a contract was signed with the UK enabling Rombac to manufacture the BAC One Eleven at Baneasa near Bucharest. Meanwhile, the 707 and Il-62 long-range aircraft were operating New York (via Amsterdam, later London and finally Vienna), Abu-Dhabi-Bangkok-Singapore, and Karachi-Beijing. TAROM was the only Eastern Bloc airline to operate flights to Tel Aviv, Israel.

The 1990s

Boeing 737-700 "Craiova" in the 1990s livery

It was only after the collapse of the Communist Party in 1989 that the airline was able to acquire more Western-built jets. By 1993, TAROM had introduced long-haul flights to Montreal and Bangkok using Ilyushin Il-62 and Airbus A310 aircraft.

During the 1990s, TAROM replaced its long-haul fleet of Boeing 707s and IL-62s with two new A310 aircraft and a third one in lease (the last Il-62 being sold in 1999). 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 Beijing in 2003, Chicago in 2002, and New York City in 2003.[2]

TAROM terminated loss-making domestic services to Craiova, Tulcea, Caransebeş, and Constanţa, and focused its activity on service to key destinations in Europe and the Middle East. 2004 was the first profitable year of the last decade.

2000 onwards

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. 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.

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 (2009). Starting by March 2013, the airline officials are in talks with Airbus, Embraer, Boeing and Mitsubishi to uniform the entire fleet around one turboprop aircraft type and a single type of jet aircraft.

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 thirteenth member.

Corporate affairs

Ownership

TAROM is a state-owned company, with shareholding structure as follows:[3]

Shareholder Interest
The Romanian State (held through the Ministry of Transport)97.05%
Bucharest Airports National Company1.55%
ROMATSA R.A.(Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration)1.31%
Societatea de Investitii Financiare Muntenia 0.09%
Total100.00%

Business trends

Figures for recent years are shown below (for years ending 31 December):

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Turnover (EUR millions)[4] 220 234 261 257 193 218 279 238 247
Profits (EUR millions)[4] 1.1 12.3 21.8 1,7 55 79 58 54,5 29,5 23
Number of employees (average for year) 2,289 2,333 2,338 2,471 2,517 2,353 2,200 2,070 2,006
Number of passengers (millions) 1.40 1.45 1.89 1.98 1.72 2.20 2.19 2.19 2.10 2.14
Passenger load factor (%)[5] 61.0 62.3 67.2 61.9 55.6 60.9 60.6 66.0 65.9 66.0
Number of aircraft (at year end) 18 20 22 24 26 26 26 24 24 24
Notes/sources [6] [6]

Logo and livery

TAROM logo in the 1970s & 1980s

The TAROM logo, representing a swallow in flight, has been used on all TAROM aircraft since 1954. In the 1970s livery the logo on the tail was painted in red, with a red cheatline. The livery introduced in the early 1990s (on the Airbus A310 aircraft) is a "Eurowhite" scheme with the titles and the tailfin painted in dark blue. Today's color scheme (introduced in 2006 on the A318) 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.

All aircraft in the TAROM fleet receive a "name" which is a Romanian toponym. For instance, the names of the ATR aircraft in the fleet are related to the rivers of Romania, the Boeing aircraft bear names of Romanian cities, the Airbus long-haul aircraft bear Romanian historical province names, while the new Airbus A318 bear names of Romanian aviation pioneers.

In 2009, marking airline's 55th anniversary, a Boeing 737-700 (YR-BGG "Craiova") was painted in a retro jet colorscheme, representing airline's first livery used in 1950s on Lisunov Li-2 airplanes.

Destinations

Main article: TAROM destinations

The airline operates directly 52 destinations (including charters) in 22 countries (Europe, Middle East and northern Africa) including 10 domestic destinations.

Alliances

In 2006, TAROM was scheduled to join SkyTeam as an associate member (sponsored by Alitalia), but the entry into the alliance was postponed until 2008. On 7 May 2008, SkyTeam signed a SkyTeam Alliance Associate Adherence Agreement (SAAAA) agreement with TAROM, indicating that the airline is on the track to join the alliance as an associate member (sponsored by Air France).

On 22 June 2010, SkyTeam announced that it had renewed its membership program, thereby making TAROM a future full member of the alliance.[7] On 25 June 2010, TAROM became a full member of SkyTeam.[8]

Codeshare agreements

TAROM has codeshare agreements with the following airlines, * indicates fellow Sky Team members:[9]

Busiest routes

Busiest routes from Henri Coandă International Airport
City Airport(s) Weekly Departures
(July 2015)[10]
Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca Airport
36
Iași Iași Airport
26
Timișoara Timișoara Airport
26
Chișinău Chișinău International Airport
18
Vienna Vienna International Airport
16
Amsterdam Amsterdam International Airport
14
Paris Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
14
Budapest Budapest International Airport
14
Frankfurt Frankfurt Airport
13
Istanbul Istanbul Ataturk Airport
13

Fleet

Current fleet

TAROM Airbus A318-100
TAROM ATR 42-500
TAROM Boeing 737-700 wearing the retro livery

The TAROM fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of June 2014):[11][12][13]

TAROM Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers Notes
B F E Total
Airbus A310-300 2 20 189 209 to be phased out by 2016
Airbus A318-100 2
2
14
26
99
81
113
107
ATR 42-500 7 -
3
5
9
11
15
48
42
38
30
28
20
48
45
43
39
39
35
YR-ATC painted in SkyTeam livery
ATR 72-500 2 -
4
68
60
68
64
Boeing 737-300 3
1
8
16
126
102
134
118
Boeing 737-700 4 14 102 116 YR-BGG painted in retro livery, YR-BGF painted in SkyTeam livery
Total 23

The average fleet age of the TAROM fleet is 12.8 years.[14]

Fleet development

In autumn 2006, TAROM's active fleet counted 16 airplanes (9 Boeing 737 classic & NG and 7 ATR 42-500). In November and December 2006, TAROM took delivery of its first two Airbus A318-111, becoming the second commercial operator of this type of aircraft in Europe, after Air France. In the fall of 2007, two more Airbus A318 have joined the fleet, bringing the total number of aircraft to four. The Airbus A318 planes are being used on routes from Bucharest to Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris and Zurich.[15]

Following airline's decision to cancel its long-haul operations both TAROM's Airbus A310 aircraft were grounded between 2003 and 2007 in Otopeni Airport. In 2008, after reintroducing them to the fleet, TAROM realized their inefficiency and decided to sell them. TAROM Executives stated discussions with Airbus and Boeing are still underway, but 3 Boeing 737-800 have been chosen as replacements and joined the fleet over the course of three months, beginning in November 2008, with the last one being delivered on 24 January 2009.

TAROM has announced an intention to standardize its fleet around either the 737 or the A320 series.[16]

Historic fleet

Maintenance

TAROM - Technical Division is an aircraft maintenance provider. It employs 800 staff and specializes in maintaining ATR, Boeing 737 series, Airbus A310 and A320 aircraft. Other maintenance providers in Romania are Aerostar SA in Bacău and Romaero located at Băneasa Airport, Bucharest.

Incidents and accidents

See also

References

  1. "Airline companies in Rumania (1918-1945) « European Airlines". Europeanairlines.no. 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  2. "Czech Airlines, Malév and Tarom all axe long-haul services". Anna.Aero. 2010-03-23. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  3. "Shareholding".
  4. 4.0 4.1 TAROM ends 4th consecutive year on loss, Ziarul Financiar, Retrieved on 25 January 2013
  5. TAROM faces competition as liberalisation brings LCCs to Romania, anna.aero. Retrieved on 25 January 2013
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Under private management, TAROM continues on losses but exceeds loss-cut targets". Ziarul Finanaciar. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  7. "SKYTEAM CELEBRATES TENTH ANNIVERSARY" (Press release). SkyTeam. 2010-06-22. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  8. "TAROM AIRLINES JOINS SKYTEAM" (Press release). SkyTeam. 2010-06-25. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  9. http://www.tarom.ro/destinatii/orarul-de-zbor/
  10. "TAROM Fleet at airfleets.net".
  11. "TAROM Fleet at planespotters.net".
  12. "TAROM Fleet at atdb.aero". aerotransport.org.
  13. "Fleet age TAROM | Airfleets aviation". Airfleets.net. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  14. Airliner World, January 2007
  15. "Romania's Tarom to standardise jet fleet". flightglobal. 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
  16. Aviation Safety Network
  17. "Accident description". Aviation-Safety.net. 2006-04-14. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  18. "Accident description". Aviation-Safety.net. 1 August 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  19. "Accident description". Aviation-Safety.net. 2009-03-15. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  20. ""Nu înţeleg ce s-a întâmplat? De ce l-au lăsat să plece?". Pilotul Valter Jurcovan a murit la Revoluţie în timp ce aducea sânge pentru răniţi". Jurnalul.ro. 2011-12-12. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  21. "Romania: TAROM". Airlineupdate.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  22. "INCIDENT TAROM". UFCNA.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  23. "Raport preliminar al accidentului de pe Henri Coanda: lipsa de coordonare intre turnul de control si echipa de balizaj". HotNews.ro. 2007-12-32. Retrieved 5 July 2010. Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Media related to TAROM at Wikimedia Commons