On February 13, the Minister of Transport, Răzvan Cuc, met with representatives of the national company TAROM’s management. He requested solutions for the acquisition of two long-haul aircraft by the end of this year to replace the A310 models, the only ones capable of operating direct flights to New York and Beijing, which were retired from the company’s fleet last year.
Until 2003, the A310 aircraft were used on routes to Bangkok, Beijing, New York, Singapore, Montreal, as well as European destinations. Amid losses of $10 million per year, Miron Mitrea, the Minister of Transport in 2003, decided to close the routes to New York and Beijing, which had been operational since 1974, during Nicolae Ceaușescu’s era.
The two aircraft were modernized in 2007 at the Airbus plants in Bordeaux and re-entered service. Until the end of last year, TAROM operated the two A310s on flights to Madrid, Amsterdam, and even Timișoara.
The two A310 aircraft were valued at $5.1 million and $5.3 million, respectively. The company wants to sell the two planes, but no decision has been made regarding the method of capitalization.
The PSD government program states the desire to purchase new aircraft for TAROM: “Urgent renewal of the TAROM fleet by acquiring 30 modern aircraft with low fuel consumption and reduced noise pollution through installments (leasing),” the cited document shows. It also specifies the intention to “urgently carry out a rigorous evaluation of the company’s personnel and optimize human resources, coupled with a salary increase in certain departments where the salary is very low.”
The resumption of TAROM’s long-haul flights has been desired since 2013, when the minister at the time, Ramona Mănescu, announced the resumption of these flights. In 2014, however, the former director of TAROM, Christian Heinzmann, stated that the Russian authorities did not grant overflight rights in Russian airspace.
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did TAROM stop flying to New York and Beijing?
The routes were closed in 2003 due to annual losses of approximately $10 million.
What is the current plan for the retired A310 aircraft?
TAROM intends to sell the two A310s, which are valued at $5.1 million and $5.3 million, though the specific sale method is yet to be decided.
What are the main challenges for resuming long-haul flights?
Key challenges include acquiring suitable aircraft and securing overflight rights, particularly from Russian authorities for Asian routes.