This news is quite suprising.
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Romania’s state airline Tarom said on Friday it would buy four new A318 planes from aircraft maker Airbus, majority owned by Franco-German aerospace company EADS (Paris:EAD.PA – News).
Flag carrier Tarom, struggling with losses and hit by the unprecedented slump affecting airlines worldwide, aims to upgrade and expand its fleet to face stiffer competition.
The company is aiming to pull out of the red in preparation for privatisation by 2005.
“We’re in the market in a bid to seal a deal,” Tarom’s marketing and sales director Aurelia Fulger told Reuters, referring to the 100-seater A318 aircraft.
A Transport Ministry source said the deal is likely to be signed in the next two days and deliveries are set to be completed by the end of 2004.
Fulger said Tarom’s executives are currently in talks with Airbus officials in France at the Paris Air Show, the industry’s biggest showcase.
Tarom is aiming to trim its losses to $19.5 million in 2003 from $29 million last year.
“This target would be a difficult one to meet given the global climate, lack of bookings for Middle East states and a suspension of the Beijing route due to SARS,” Fulger said.
Last week, Airbus said it was sticking with a target to deliver 300 jets this year, signalling the European plane maker would overtake Boeing (NYSE:BA – News) in annual deliveries for the first time in three decades of fierce competition.
Fulger said Tarom will also lease two new 116-seater Boeing 737-700s New Generation, due to go into operation in November.
Tarom currently operates two Airbus 310 aircraft, seven Boeing 737-500s and 700s and seven ATR 42-500s.
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Being a 737 operator this is quite strange news to see them aquiring the A318 though it is a much needed order for the aircraft.
By: martin_EGTK - 21st June 2003 at 20:45
Dartie, BA didn’t actually cancel their orders, they just swapped them for some A319s and A321s. the 321s are off to GB Airways while the A319s are going to the mainline airline.
By: Saab 2000 - 21st June 2003 at 20:36
The 737-600 has had alot of problems with SAS and the 767 is being retired.
What I am saying is if you consider the size of SAS and the area it consumes plus the market that is there etc compared to Romania, then to operate such a diverse fleet for such a small airline doesn’t seem right taking into account the costs involved in such a move. Look at CSA an all Boeing short haul fleet, Croatian an all Airbus short haul fleet, Malev an all Boeing short haul fleet, compared to TAROM.
By: EGNM - 21st June 2003 at 19:44
Originally posted by mongu
But SAS are moving to an Airbus fleet. The 767’s are being retired.
i’m not talking about B767s i’m on about B737-600s which they operate?
By: Cyprioteagle - 21st June 2003 at 12:30
While talking with a romanian the other day he stated TAROM is planning to lease or buy two A330-200’s to replace the remaining A310’s that are getting older. However, he didnt mention any plans of the airline to buy A318’s.
I havent managed to get any formal source to doublecross this information he gave me. Perhaps, Tarom is having more suprises for us.
By: dartie - 21st June 2003 at 11:57
Thats great, I heard when Airbus released the A318 that there orders for the aircraft werent as high as expected and that some airlines cancelled their orders. I think BA was one of the airlines that canceled their order, im not exactly 100% sure on that thought.
But great news Air Malta is undergoing a fleet renewal program by ordering 6 A320’s and 7 A319’s, go Air Malta.
By: keltic - 21st June 2003 at 11:48
I have flew it a couple of years ago, and I have to admit that I was impressed. I wasn´t happy, because it had had a bad reputation, and a couple of weird incidents/accidents in the past. But the flight from Madrid to Bucarest via Barcelona was quite enjoyable despite the not really friendly flight attendants which still had a comunist background behaviour. In any case I flew B737-300, brand new. Shinning, the crew image was just superb, with smart new uniforms, smooth fights and superb catering (with even full sandwitches service between MAD and BCN which only takes 30 minutes. All B737 were fitted with Screens (we had a film in a four hours flight, and the rest of the time flight data, maps, speed and all that stuff) and music channels. I recommend it.
By: mongu - 21st June 2003 at 11:29
But SAS are moving to an Airbus fleet. The 767’s are being retired.
By: EGNM - 21st June 2003 at 11:27
well as a rule yes, but look at SAS – B736, A321, MD87
By: Saab 2000 - 21st June 2003 at 10:38
TAROM has an extremely varied fleet of aircraft for such a small airline, quite a bad idea if you consider they also have the 737-700 on order. For an airline that is being privatised such a large deficit should be cut with the standardisation of the fleet.
By: mongu - 21st June 2003 at 01:05
Preston, the 1-11’s were made by ROMBAC (ROMania BAC) in Romania, under licence from BAC. Do you think you’ll ever see a Romanian made airliner again?!
By: A330Crazy - 21st June 2003 at 00:29
Excellent news. I never saw this coming at all, but Im glad it has… Please tell me the 318 will replace the 737 on the LHR route?
By: EGNM - 20th June 2003 at 23:54
great news for Airbus, breaking another deal with TAROM, who also operate the A310! Wasn’t more than about 4 or 5 years ago since TAROM were operating BAC1-11s
By: mongu - 20th June 2003 at 21:08
Odd how Airbus is “now” majority owned by EADS and no mention of BAE Systems. They still have their 20% but obviously EADS are annoyed with them because of the Lockheed/Boeing merger talk.
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June 20, 2003 at 9:02 pm