KURT HOFMANN / BUCHAREST
Tarom's president Ioan Lixandru says the recent surprise decision by the Romanian government to acquire Airbus A318s for the airline's short-haul fleet, which is all-Boeing, was influenced by political factors. Meanwhile, the airline is stepping up efforts to join an alliance as it undergoes an audit from SkyTeam.
Tarom has a memorandum of understanding for four Airbus A318s, and Lixandru says talks about firming up the deal are ongoing: "At the end of this year, we will decide what we do." With the deal intended to strengthen the country's trade relationship with France, Lixandru says it "happened to provide good relations with everyone".
The airline operates four Boeing 737-300s and two -700s, with a further two due for delivery at the end of the year. Five ATR 42s are also flown on regional routes.
Lixandru says that while he supports the A318 decision, he is "not so happy" about its impact on fleet harmonisation. He adds that if the A318 deal is finalised, the 100-seaters will be used to extend its short- and medium-haul network, rather than to replace the 737s.
The airline, majority owned by the Romanian government, has suffered in the downturn and Lixandru says the expected loss of $20 million for 2003 "will now be much more". The target date for a return to profitability has also slipped.
An alliance is expected within a year, says Lixandru, and SkyTeam is the frontrunner. "We are in an audit with them," he says. Any alliance tie-up would allow the airline to drop its unprofitable long-haul services, which are flown by two Airbus A310s, and plans to replace the twinjets have been dropped.
Meanwhile, the airline's maintenance arm is now able to undertake D checks on ATRs and 737s. It has also won US Federal Aviation Administration approval to undertake freighter conversions of 737s.
Source: Flight International
