TAROM (RO, Bucharest Henri Coanda) has sold its 50% stake in Romanian Fuelling Services S.R.L to Air bp. The sale was conducted in line with TAROM's restructuring strategy that stipulates divestment from the carrier's non-core businesses.
The agreement was signed on March 27, 2025, and is pending approval from the authorities. Once green-lighted, Air bp will become the sole owner of the fuelling company. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Separately, the Romanian Ministry of Transport increased TAROM's share capital by RON29.28 Romanian lei (USD6.7 million) at the end of 2024. The capital increase was approved by the airline's shareholders in April 2025 and disclosed in June.
Following the shareholding changes, the ministry increased its stake in the airline from 97.8% to 98.0%.
Minority shareholders did not participate in the capital increase and, as a result, their stakes decreased. The state-owned airport operator Compania Nationala Aeroporturi Bucuresti formerly held 1.15% but now owns 1.04% of the company. Air navigation services provider ROMATSA and Longshield Investment Group had their ownership in TAROM reduced from 0.98% and 0.07% to 0.89% and 0.06%, respectively.
The state-owned postal operator, Poșta Română, recently expressed interest in taking over TAROM.
Summer season wet-lease
Meanwhile, TAROM has been wet-leasing an A320-200 from Malta MedAir since June 12.
9H-MMO (msn 3577) is powered by International Aero Engines V2500 engines and can seat up to 180 passengers in an all-economy cabin layout. It was delivered new to TACA International Airlines in 2008, which operated the aircraft until 2015. The jet subsequently changed several operators before arriving in Malta MedAir's fleet in 2022. It is owned by Alterna Capital Partners.
Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that 9H-MMO has mostly been deployed on services from Bucharest Henri Coanda to Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt International. Malta MedAir told ch-aviation that the aircraft will continue operating in TAROM's network until the end of the 2025 summer season.
According to the ch-aviation Commercial Aviation Aircraft Data module, TAROM currently operates two ATR72-500s, four ATR72-600s, four B737-700s, and four B737-800s. Due to limits set in the restructuring plan, the airline cannot to grow its fleet or expand its route network until the end of 2026.
