Romania’s government is to seek €47 million in rescue finance for loss-making flag-carrier Tarom, as part of a €110 million restructuring package, the country’s transport minister has told a television station.
Lucian Bode has disclosed the plan to Romanian television channel B1.
“At Tarom, things look very bad,” Bode told the station, adding that the airline would end the year with losses of around 190 million lei ($44 million) and that the carrier has reserves of €20 million.
Bode accuses his predecessor, Razvan Cuc, of failing to reform the airline, adding that the carrier’s fleet needs to be unified.
He states that the airline is “considering” an acquisition of ATR turboprops. It agreed earlier this year to take nine ATR 72-600s but has yet to receive any of them.
Tarom operates nine older ATR aircraft.
It also has a mixed jet fleet of Boeing 737s, comprising multiple variants, as well as Airbus A318s. The airline also has the 737 Max on order.
