Tarom might also disuse three planes, namely two old Airbus A 310, whose repair costs would be significant, and a Boeing 737 – 800 rented in 2008, Demetriade said, adding that the airline can’t afford to buy new planes at the moment.
Tarom’s fleet includes 24 planes. The company employs 2,090 people.
Demetriade was appointed chief executive officer of Tarom in June, after the managing board decided to shorten the four-year term of general manager Christian Heinzmann to one year.
Tarom president Dan Pascariu said last week Heinzmann met less than 30% of the objectives stated in the company’s management plan and had not started restructuring. According to Pascariu, Heinzmann employed 40 new people, failing to comply with a Board decision to freeze hiring.
Heinzmann was named general manager of Tarom in November last year.
Tarom registered loss of 66 million lei (EUR14.8 million) in the first four months of the year, lower by RON30 million compared to the loss estimated in the management plan. The company registered unaudited loss of RON236 million last year.
The management plan, approved by the Executive Board in March, states loss of RON143 million this year and of RON18 million in 2014. Tarom is expected to switch to profit of RON92 million in 2015 and of RON173 million in 2016.
The airline started a voluntary leave program in March, aiming at downsizing staff by 10% by the end of the year.
Tarom is controlled by the Transport Ministry, which selected in July 2012 the consortium PwC/D&B David and Baias/George Butunoiu to recruit private general managers and managing board members for the companies under its authority with turnovers higher than EUR7.3 million.
Tarom’s Board includes Pascariu (also president of the Supervisory Board of UniCredit Tiriac Bank), former astronaut Dumitru Prunariu, businessman Marius Ghenea, Valentin Macec (former adviser to ex-Transport minister Ovidiu Silaghi) and Ciprian Ladunca (CFO of insurer Alico). (EUR1=RON4.4416)