Romania’s national carrier, TAROM, is seeking to strengthen its position within the SkyTeam alliance while focusing on financial recovery and regional growth, CEO Bogdan Costas said in an interview during the Aviation-Event conference in Cluj-Napoca. The airline, which currently operates a fleet of 14 aircraft and serves 27 destinations, remains under an EU restructuring programme that prevents network expansion until early 2027.
SkyTeam cooperation under review
Costas said that while SkyTeam membership provides value through codeshare agreements, smaller airlines face challenges gaining visibility alongside larger alliance members such as Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines.
He said TAROM is assessing how to improve cooperation within the alliance and is also exploring closer partnerships with regional carriers, including Air Serbia.
During the restructuring period, the airline is concentrating on strengthening domestic services, expanding its Balkan network and feeding passengers into major European hubs such as Amsterdam, Paris and Madrid.
Fleet renewal supports future expansion
TAROM has begun introducing Boeing 737 MAX aircraft as part of its fleet renewal programme, with plans to consider new destinations after restructuring concludes in 2027. Potential future markets include North Africa and West Asia.
Costas said improving profitability remains the airline’s immediate priority, noting that several routes are not generating sufficient financial returns. He also highlighted infrastructure constraints at Bucharest Airport, where long-term terminal expansion is not expected until the next decade.
Despite these challenges, TAROM aims to stabilise its operations before pursuing further growth and strengthening its role within the SkyTeam alliance.
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