TAROM

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"Tarom" redirects here. For other uses, see Tarom (disambiguation).
TAROM Romanian Air Transport
TAROM Transporturile Aeriene Române
250px
IATA ICAO Callsign
RO ROT TAROM
Founded 18 September 1954[1]
Operating bases Henri Coandă International Airport
Hubs <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Focus cities <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Frequent-flyer program Flying Blue
Airport lounge Departures Lounge
Alliance SkyTeam
Fleet size 23
Destinations 79
Headquarters Otopeni, Ilfov County, Romania
Key people Christian Edouard Heinzmann, CEO
Revenue Increase 352 million € (2015)
Operating income Increase -10,8 million € (2015)
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 near Bucharest. Its headquarters and its main hub are at Henri Coandă International Airport. It is currently the largest airline operating in Romania based on fleet size, international destinations, international flights and the second largest measured by passengers carried.

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 2.3 million passengers in 2014, with an average load factor of 66%. The airline joined SkyTeam on 25 June 2010.

History

The beginnings

Blériot-SPAD S.46 on airmail stamp

The history of Romanian National Air Transport Company can be traced back from 1920, when CFRNA - (French-Romanian Company for Air Navigation) was founded.[1][2] 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).[3]

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

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),[2] 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 over all air services and aircraft from LARES.[3]

Over the following decade, the company's Soviet share was purchased by 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 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, in 1973. Five examples (three Il-62s and two later version Il-62Ms) were owned by TAROM, which also leased the aircraft to other operators.

An exception to Soviet-built aircraft was made in 1968, when TAROM bought BAC One Elevens 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 Airbus A310s (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.[4]

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 A318s, three Boeing 737-800s, and two ATR 72-500s, which resulted in a fleet increase to 26 by 2009.

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:[5]

Shareholder Interest
The Romanian State (held through the Ministry of Transport) 097.17%
Bucharest Airports National Company 01.48%
ROMATSA R.A.(Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration) 01.26%
Societatea de Investitii Financiare Muntenia 0.09%
Total 100.00%

Business trends

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

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Turnover (EUR millions)[6] 220 234 261 257 193 218 279 238 247 256 352
Profits (EUR millions)[6] 1.1 12.3 21.8 −1,7 −55 −79 −58 −54,5 −29,5 −23 −10,8
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 2.13 2.40
Passenger load factor (%)[7] 61.0 62.3 67.2 61.9 55.6 60.9 60.6 66.0 65.9 66.0 68.0
Number of aircraft (at year end) 18 20 22 24 26 26 26 24 24 24 23
Notes/sources [8] [8]

Logo and livery

File:Tarom70s.png
TAROM logo in the 1970s and 1980s

The TAROM logo, representing a swallow in flight, has been used on all TAROM aircraft since 1954. It is sometimes confused with the similar logo of LOT Polish Airlines, which features a crane in flight. 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 an overall-white scheme with the titles and the tailfin painted in dark blue. The current 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 Airbus A318s bear names of Romanian aviation pioneers.

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

Destinations

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Main article: TAROM destinations

The airline operates directly 79 destinations (including charters/seasonal) in 25 countries (Europe, Middle East, Northern Africa and United States) including 6 domestic destinations. Flights to USA (New York, Detroit and Washington) are under codeshare agreement and operated by Air France from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Several other flights to Italy and France under codeshare agreement and operated by Air France and Alitalia. https://www.tarom.ro/destinatii/harta-destinatiilor/

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 that year, SkyTeam signed a SkyTeam Alliance Associate Adherence Agreement (SAAAA) agreement 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.[9] On 25 June 2010, TAROM became a full member of SkyTeam.[10]

Codeshare agreements

TAROM has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[11]

Other Partners

Through the partnerships that TAROM concludes with other airlines it gives you the ability to reach farther, thus benefiting from the advantages of such collaborations.

Busiest routes

Busiest routes from Henri Coandă International Airport
City Airport(s) Weekly Departures
(November 2015)[12]
Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca Airport
41
Paris Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
34
Iași Iași Airport
27
Timișoara Timișoara Airport
26
Chișinău Chișinău International Airport
20
Amsterdam Amsterdam International Airport
14
Budapest Budapest International Airport
14
Frankfurt Frankfurt Airport
13
Istanbul Istanbul Ataturk Airport
13
Munich Munich Airport
12
Vienna Vienna International Airport
12
Brussels Brussels Airport
12
Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport
12
Sofia Sofia Airport
11
Madrid Madrid-Barajas Airport
9

Fleet

Current fleet

TAROM Airbus A318-100 arrives London Heathrow Airport (2015)
TAROM ATR 42-500
TAROM Boeing 737-700 in retro livery

As of May 2015 the TAROM fleet consists of the following aircraft:[13]

TAROM Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers Notes
B E Total
Airbus A310-300 2 — 20 189 209
Airbus A318-100 4 — 14 99 113
ATR 42-500 7 — 6 42 48
ATR 72-500 2 — 8 60 68
Boeing 737-300 4 — 8 126 134
Boeing 737-700 4 — 14 102 116
Total 23 0

Historic fleet

Maintenance

TAROM - Technical Division provides aircraft maintenance services for the entire fleet of the company and for the fleet of other national and international companies. The objective of TAROM Technical Department is to be the best and the most efficient, in terms of costs, maintenance service provider for Boeing 737, ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft in Central and Eastern Europe.

The services provided by the TAROM Technical Department include unscheduled maintenance works, scheduled maintenance works and repair works for spare parts. Maintenance services are provided by qualified, licensed personnel, with state of the art equipment.

During its 40 years of activity, the TAROM Technical Department became an effective maintenance services provider, at the highest standards, for the most used aircraft models for passenger transportation. The mission of the technical department is to remain among the best maintenance service providers for Boeing 737 and ATR42/72 aircraft in Central and Eastern Europe.

With over 40 years of experience in aircraft maintenance, the TAROM Technical Department offers the perfect combination between high quality services and affordable costs. The TAROM Technical Department endeavours to provide its business partners in Romania and abroad with cost effective high quality services.

The performance and quality of services were recognised at international level, as the TAROM Technical Department has been awarded with many certifications: AACR certification as JAR 145 authorized maintenance organization in 2000, FAA certification as International Repairs Station (2003), certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (2007). Also, to satisfy the needs of its business partners, the TAROM Technical Department obtained approvals from the Civil Aviation Authorities of Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman, to address the needs of the companies in their jurisdiction.

Capabilities of the TAROM Technical Department include the following types of operations on aircraft:

A310 - inspection C A318 - full (inspection C) B737 - full (inspection D) ATR42/72 - full (inspection C) Programs for old aircraft and anticorrosive protection Total painting Interior redesign Modifications

The major maintenance activity is performed in the hangar of the technical department, built between 1969 and 1972, with an area of 6,000 m2 and restored in 2000 to fully comply with EASA (European Safety Aviation Agency) and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) standards. The hangar is equipped to perform all types of inspections for TAROM fleet, and the personnel is qualified and licensed for all types of aircraft in the fleet. Maintenance activities for 3 up to 6 aircraft, depending on their size, may be carried out simultaneously in the hangar.

The hangar is equipped with full MERO system for B737 docking. Also, major investments in special maintenance equipment, as well as qualified personnel are the guarantee to the quality of the services and timely delivery of services.

The most important maintenance capacities of the TAROM Technical Department include: full maintenance services for Boeing 737 and ATR42/72 aircrafts, inspection capacity type C for Airbus A310 and A318 aircraft, total painting, interior cleaning, modifications.

The facilities of the technical department include the following workshops and laboratories:

Pneumatics Engine connection Rescue equipment Structural repairs Welding Painting Avionics NDT Hydraulics Wheels and brakes Oxygen Composite repairs Mechanics workshop Interior equipment Accumulators Chemical analysis Tapestry work

Services provided in these workshops and laboratories are offered under the capabilities list CLC (EASA + FAA).

Also, the technical department provides safe storage facilities for spare parts and materials necessary for maintenance activity, dedicated spaces for chemicals, dedicated spaces for special tools and testing equipments, quarantine spaces.

The TAROM Technical Department also provides conveyance services (packaging, preparation of documents, customs) and acceptance services (customs, disassembly, and reception inspection) for various substances and equipment.

Over the years, the TAROM Technical Department has provided full maintenance and repairs services to companies such as:

Lauda Air - between 1985 and 1987 Dan Air - between 1984 and 1988 Monarch - between 1984 and 1988 Ryan Air - between 1986 and 1992 Aeroasia - between 1992 and 2000 Air Afrique - between1991 and 1995 EAS - between 1999 and 2001 Forţele Aeriene Române.

Other companies such as: Air One, Aegean Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Oman Air, Jordan Aviation, Israir, Farnair, Air Mediterranee, Primera Air, VIP Wings and others have recently been added to the TAROM Technical Department portfolio.

https://www.tarom.ro/en/services/technical-department/

Incidents and accidents

  • On 4 November 1957, a TAROM Ilyushin Il-14, registration YR-PCC, operating an international administrative flight from Bucharest to Moscow crashed short of the runway at Vnukovo Airport, killing four of 16 on board. The aircraft was on approach to Vnukovo Airport when the pilot noticed that the aircraft was too low, however the aircraft continued its descent until it struck tree tops and later crashed. The aircraft was carrying members of the Romanian government to Moscow to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution.[14]
  • On 24 February 1962 a Ilyushin Il-18V, registration YR-IMB, operating on an international scheduled flight from Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP) to Tel Aviv, Israel via Nicosia, Cyprus lost power on all four engines and made a belly landing on a grassy field in Cyprus. While cruising at 23 000 FT over the Mediterranean Sea and 43 miles off shore engine number 3 lost power, followed shortly by number 1 and 2. Then at 10 000 FT and 27 miles off shore engine 4 also quit. All 100 occupants survived. The aircraft was transported to Moscow for repairs, but it never re-entered service.[15]
  • On 9 October 1964, an Ilyushin Il-14, registration YR-ILB, operating a domestic scheduled flight from Timișoara to Bucharest broke apart in mid-air and crashed 2 km south of Cugir, killing all 31 on board. The aircraft had flown into a strong downdraft; the pilot attempted to maintain altitude, but this caused the fuselage to overstress and break apart.[16]
  • On 4 February 1970, TAROM Flight 35, an Antonov An-24, registration YR-AMT, operating a domestic scheduled flight from Bucharest to Oradea struck the side of a mountain in the Vladeasa mountain group, killing 20 of 21 on board. The aircraft began descending in poor visibility until it struck tree tops on a mountain side, after which it struck the slope of a second mountain. The aircraft was leased from the Romanian government.[17]
  • On 29 December 1974, an Antonov An-24, registration YR-AMD, operating on a domestic scheduled flight from Bucharest to Sibiu crashed into the side of the Mountains (Muntii) Lotrului (22 km south of Sibiu) at an altitude of 1,700 m, killing all 28 passengers and 5 crew members. The crew's incorrect approach procedure execution, which led to the aircraft drifting south off course by 20 km, while the wind was increasing turbulence was present.[18]
  • On 7 August 1980, a Tupolev Tu-154B-1 registered YR-TPH, operating on an international scheduled flight from Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP), Romania to Nouadhibou Airport (NDB), Mauritania ditched in the water 300 m short of the runway at Nouadhibou Airport. The crew could not see the runway while descending through the 90 m decision height. A missed approach procedure was initiated when the pilot felt contact with what he thought was ground, but was actually water.[19] All of the 152 passengers and 16 crew members survived the impact, but a passenger suffered a heart attack and died before he could be rescued. Most of the passengers were sailors who were going to replace the crew of two Romanian ships located on the Mauritanian coast. Many passengers swam to the land, while sharks were kept away by the vibrations of an engine which continued to function for a few hours after the crash.
  • On 5 September 1986, an Antonov An-24 registered YR-AMF operating on a domestic scheduled flight from Bucharest Băneasa (BBU) touched down nose wheel-first while landing at the Cluj Airport (CLJ). A fire erupted, killing three crew members who were trapped in the cockpit. The other two crew members and all fifty passengers survived.[20]
  • On 24 September 1994, TAROM Flight 381, an Airbus A310 registered YR-LCA flying from Bucharest to Paris Orly, went into a sudden and un-commanded nose-up position and stalled. The crew attempted to countermand the aircraft's flight control system but were unable to get the nose down while remaining on course. Witnesses saw the aircraft climb with an extreme nose-up attitude, then bank sharply left, then right, then fall into a steep dive. Only when the dive produced additional speed was the crew able to recover steady flight. An investigation found that an overshoot of flap placard speed during approach, incorrectly commanded by the captain, caused a mode transition to flight level change. The auto-throttles increased power and trim went full nose-up as a result. The crew's attempt at commanding the nose-down elevator could not counteract effect of stabilizer nose-up trim, and the resulting dive brought the aircraft from a height of 4,100 ft at the time of the stall to 800 ft when the crew was able to recover command. The aircraft landed safely after a second approach. There were 186 people on board.[23]
  • On 31 March 1995, a TAROM Airbus A310 operating as Flight 371 crashed near Baloteşti due to a fault in the throttles and lack of recovery from the flight crew. All 50 passengers and 10 crew members were killed.
  • On 30 December 2007, a TAROM Boeing 737-300 (YR-BGC "Constanţa"), flying Flight 3107 hit a car on the runway of Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport while taking off for Sharm-el-Sheikh. The aircraft stopped beside the runway and was severely damaged.[24] None of the passengers were injured. Because of fog, neither the tower nor the pilots saw the car belonging to staff who were repairing a runway beacon.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 A brief history of TAROM
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 About TAROM
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 TAROM ends 4th consecutive year on loss, Ziarul Financiar, Retrieved on 25 January 2013
  7. ↑ TAROM faces competition as liberalisation brings LCCs to Romania, anna.aero. Retrieved on 25 January 2013
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ [1]
  12. ↑ http://www.tarom.ro/destinatii/orarul-de-zbor/
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Accident description for Ilyushin Il-18V YR-IMB at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 26 July 2013.
  16. ↑ Accident description for Ilyushin Il-14 YR-ILB at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 December 2015.
  17. ↑ Accident description for Antonov An-24 YR-AMT at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 December 2015.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons

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