Tarom is the name of the official domestic and international airline of Romania.

History

Tarom can trace its origins to the year 1920 when the French-Romanian Company For Air Navigation, (CFRNA) was formed. The airline used French built POTEZ planes to perform its services of carrying passengers and mail, from Paris to Bucharest, stopping in European cities along the way.

Tarom Boeing 737

In 1925, the city of Galati became the first domestic Romanian destination. In 1926, the airline changed its name to the The International Air Navigation Company, (CIDNA).

In 1930 it changed its name to LARES, and in 1937, LARES was merged with competitor SARTA.

On September 18 of 1954, the airline became known as Tarom (Transporturi Aeriene ROMâne, meaning Romanian Air Transport). It took Tarom six years to link to most important capitals in Europe, and 12 years to fly trans-atlantic for the first time. By 1974, Tarom began services to JFK International Airport in New York. It also reached Australia, flying to Sydney, via Calcutta.

During the 1980s, Tarom (being an Eastern Bloc airline) was forced to buy Russian aircraft exclusively. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Tarom has re-introduced western built jets to their fleet.

Present day

Nowadays, Tarom is one of the former Eastern Bloc airlines that have been able to once again flourish, taking advantage of the opportunity to buy western equipment. Its fleet consists of 7 Boeing 737-200's, 2 Boeing 737-700's, 2 Airbus A310-325's, and 7 ATR 42-500's. It also has a frequent flyer programme and is under contract with Schabak and Wooster Plastic Planes to make their model airplanes. Tarom is trying to enlarge its flight opportunities too, and decided to focus on Otopeni International Airport (OTP), Timisoara Traian Vuia International Airport (TSR) and Cluj-Napoca International Airport (CLJ)(in order of traffic).

Recently (2004), Tarom has discontinued trans-atlantic flights.