2005 - ROMANIAN GENERAL AVIATION NEWS

Dec 02 – Jan 10

►Eurojet Aviation Romania - VIP & charter - is estimating a US $ 2 Mil turnover for its 2004 fiscal. Although its current fleet comprises of a single BAe-3202 Jetstream Click Here plus a recently added Cessna 560 Citation Ultra Click Here Eurojet Romania plans to renew its fleet by 2007

►KLM Romania announced that it expects around 25 million Euro in turnover for its 2004 fiscal. As of January 31, 2005 KLM will introduce its third daily flight between Amsterdam Schiphol and Bucharest Henri Coanda, with serious plans for its fourth on the coming summer-schedule.

►Tarom's business plan approved by the Transport Ministry and the World Bank, forecasts a $224 million turnover and a US $1.1 Mil profit for 2004

►Starting May 01, 2005, British Airways is introducing a new three weekly rotation between London Gatwick Click Here and Bucharest Henri Coanda. The equipment to be used on the route Boeing 737-400 Click Here BA is currently assessing the opportunity of adding new routes from London to Timisoara and Cluj in the near future

►Although Tarom is currently negotiating its future partnership with Sky Team Alliance - to join the alliance sometime in 2005 - it recently signed an interline agreement with Virgin Atlantic Airways Click Here to facilitate flight connections beyond London Heathrow to New York, Miami and San Francisco

►After getting its air-operator certificate MyAir Click Here started low-cost operation from Bucharest Baneasa to Milan Orio Al Serio (Bergamo) and Venice Marco Polo

►This past December, Tarom Click Here launched a special 10 Euro one-way flights from Arad to Sibiu / Tirgu Mures, Oradea to Baia Mare / Satu Mare, Bacau to Suceava. The offer is valid until March 2005

►Blue Air, first ever Romanian based low-cost airline started operation on Dec 13 using a couple of wet-leased B737-300. Currently served destinations Timisoara, Barcelona-Reus, Lyon, Milan Orio Al Serio. Registration of aircraft in use are YR-BAA coming from AWAS-Australia Click Here and CS-TLL coming from EuroAtlantic Airways Lisbon, Portugal Click Here

►Most profitable routes for Tarom in 2004 Paris, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Athens, Tel Aviv. Business class tickets account for most of the airline's revenues and profits

►During 2004, KLM Click Here hauled closed to 100,000 travelers between its hub in Amsterdam and Bucharest Henri Coanda at an average load factor situated above 90%.

►Starting March 28 trough October 29, Alitalia is boosting up to its frequencies on Milan Malpensa to Timisoara Traian Vuia from daily to twice daily service. Flights are to be operated by Alitalia Express with 50 seat ERJ 145 equipment Click Here

►Tarom’s plans for its 2005 Summer schedule to include increased frequencies on existing destinations to Brussels, Vienna, Rome, Paris, Athens, Istanbul.

►It appears that during November 2004, Tarom lost its license to operate scheduled or charter flights (persons and goods) between Romania and points in Canada due to airline’s failure to file, renew its certificate of insurance with the Canadian Transportation Agency. Licensee (Tarom SA) must establish to the satisfaction of the Canadian Transportation Agency that it has the prescribed liability insurance coverage in respect of the services to be provided under the license.

►It is said that British Airways’s current load factor between London Heathrow and Bucharest Henri Coanda seats at 80%

►For its inaugural flight on the Bucharest Baneasa to Timisoara route, Blue Air’s offered free onboard ride-passes. Airport taxes - around six Euro for each leg - were gladly supported by travelers. Currently Blue Air is operating twice-daily flights, Monday to Friday, between Bucharest and Timisoara.

►Carpatair’s Click Here turnover grew in 2004 to reach US $ 48 Mil which represents a 51% net increase year on year basis. The airline flew some 290,000 passengers in 2004 which is 38% more than the year before

►Blue Air’s top-management goal in the very first year of activity: 160,000 passengers transported to their destinations. Dusseldorf seems to be top of the list on airline’s further expansion plans

►Accordingly to some travel analysts, Romania is considering signing-up the Open Sky Agreement earlier than its official accession date to European Union scheduled for January 01, 2007. Some of them are expecting this to happen during 2005.

►The “low-cost market” between Romania and Italy it’s currently estimated at 300,000 passengers annually

►Romania’s “leisure-charter market” registered a 60% growth in 2004 comparative with 2002 and is being currently estimated at 100,000 passengers annually. Again most popular destination for Romanians was Turkey followed by Spain, Greece and Egypt

►Romavia will take delivery of a BAe 146-200 Click Here in the first quarter of 2005. It appears that the aircraft is on a five years damp-lease from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft.

► In a lease transaction with BAE Systems Regional Aircraft, Club Air S.p.a of Italy Click Here has added the fifth BAe 146-200 to its fleet. New routes are shortly to be introduced from Bari, Parma and Verona to Brussels and from Bari to Paris.

Jan 11 – Feb 14

►Romania’s new Transport Minister Gheorghe Dobre dismissed Rodica Odobescu and appointed Cristian Becerescu as Tarom’s newest General Manager. Prior to his appointment Becerescu coordinated Tarom’s Strategy & Development Department

►An official spoken person revealed that a team of analysts allotted by the Romanian Transport Minister is currently working on a new civil aviation strategy to better-fit Romania’s new Liberal Government priorities. The project could take several weeks to completion and will include a new guideline for the resumption of Tarom’s flights to New York and Beijing.

►Carpatair has recently chosen Flightscape’s Insight/Animation© and Insight/Analysis© tools for their Flight Data Monitoring Program (FDM/FOQA). Flightscape is a flight safety company providing expertise in flight recorder playback, analysis and flight sciences. Flightscape develops software tools that enable the effective study and understanding of recorded flight data to improve safety, maintenance and flight operations

►Rumor has it that Tarom’s Technical Division is getting itself ready to offer Boeing 737 pax to cargo conversion-services in the near future

►A Farnair / Hungary LET-410 Turbolet, cargo-configured aircraft, registration HA - LAR Click Here crashed one mile short of runway 15/33 at Iasi International Airport – LRIA / IAS around 8:00 am local time. Both pilots on board the aircraft lost their life in this tragic accident. Heavy snow and low visibility conditions were reported at the time of the crash. It appears that the aircraft overshot the runway in its first attempt to land. During the ensuing merry-go-round maneuver the aircraft crashed and caught fire in a wooded area nearby the airport. The flight originated at Bucharest Baneasa – BBU. Civil Aviation Authority’s representatives from Romania and Hungary are investigating into the cause of the crash.

►A Tarom ATR 42-500 Click Here aborted its takeoff mid-way trough due to snowy conditions at Sibiu Airport –SBZ. It appears that the aircraft lost directional control on the runway during its takeoff roll before reaching V1. Although brakes and reverse-thrust were deployed the aircraft overshot the runway and got stacked in snow past threshold. No damages to aircraft or injuries reported. The flight bound for Munich was cancelled.

►Starting March 28 Carpatair is launching air-services between Timisoara – TSR and Constanta – CND. Flights are to be operated Mon-Sat using SAAB 340 equipment Click Here The service however is only available in conjunction with an international flight or stopover flight (not open to domestic traffic) The early morning departure from Constanta allows timely connection with the entire array of international destinations offered by Carpatair out of its hub in Timisoara.

►While launching a new three weekly service between Timisoara -TSR and Naples – NAP (Italy), Carpatair is scaling back its services between Timisoara and Guglielmo Marconi Bologna-BLQ, Italy from six to three weekly on March 28.

►From March 27 Carpatair is boosting its flight-frequency from twelve to fourteen weekly between Cluj-CLJ and Budapest-BUD and from three to six weekly between Timisoara and Turin - TRN

►The Romanian based low cost operator BlueAir Click Here has reduced its flight-frequency between Bucharest Baneasa – BBU and Lyon – LYS from five to three weekly (now via Timisoara) while launching a new three weekly service to Istanbul - IST. Rumor has it that Budapest – BUD, Tirgu Mures – TGM and Dusseldorf - DUS may be added to its list of destination later in the year.

►Tarom signed two more interlines agreements: one with Air Canada Click Here beyond London Heathrow to Toronto and Montreal and another one with Tunisair Click Here beyond Rome Fumicino. to Djerba and Tunis

►It appears that Carpatair is getting closer to acquire either Boeing or Fokker jet-aircraft. It is said that these jets will bolster Carpatair’s plans to open few more destinations to France, Spain and/or Ireland.

►A Tarom Boeing 737-300 reg YR-BGE “Timisoara” Click Here ingested a couple of birds onto its no. 2 engine during a takeoff from Larnaca - LCA, Cyprus. It appears that the incident occurred during climbing at an altitude of around 1000 m (3000 feet) in darkness (11 PM local time). After shutting down the damaged engine, pilots managed to turn back the aircraft for an emergency landing at Larnaca. No injuries were reported.

►From March 28, Carpatair is boosting its flight-frequency from three to six weekly between Timisoara Traian Vuia International - TSR and Dusseldorf - DUS. Flights are operated Mon-Sat with 50 seat SAAB 2000 Click Here

►Condor will operate weekly charter flights between Frankfurt - FRA and Constanta - CND. Service is available every Tuesday between May 10 – Sep 27. Flights to be operated with Boeing 757-300 Click Here

►Malev Hungarian is considering opening flights between Budapest - BUD and Constanta – CND this coming summer.

►May 16, Cimber Air and Scandinavian Airlines are boosting their existent codeshare flight between Copenhagen – CPH and Bucharest Henri Coanda – OTP from six weekly to daily service. Flights are operated by Cimber Air with CRJ Click Here

►In addition to its own twice-daily operated flights between Paris – CDG and Bucharest Henri Coanda – OTP, Air France will have its designator code on two other daily flights operated by Tarom on that very same route starting March 28. While Air France will be using Airbus 320 family aircraft on the route Click Here and Click Here Tarom will operate with Boeing NG 737-700 Click Here and Click Here

►British Airways is opening three weekly flights between London Gatwick – LGW and Bucharest Henri Coanda – OTP, May 01Click Here and Click Here

►Austrian Airlines is increasing its flight-frequency on the early morning departure from Timisoara – TSR to Vienna – VIE from three to six weekly. Flights on the route are to be operated by Tyrolean Airways with De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Click Here

Feb 15 – Mar 23

►A Russian made MI 2 helicopter Click Here belonging to Aviatia Utilitara crashed in a rocky valley of Carpathian Alps near the village of Polatiştea, Gorj County. Out of the four crew on board two fatalities were registered. After the crash one of the pilots managed to make an emergency call from its cell phone.

►It appears that an undisclosed air-operator got the nod from Romanian Civil Aviation Authority to fly the Bucharest to Verona via Arad route once the spring/summer schedule comes in effect around March 30.

►A Tarom ATR 42-500 bound for Bucharest Henri Coanda experienced difficulties on retracting its main landing gear after taking off from Budapest Ferihegy. Due to extreme wintry condition over the Carpathian Alps, pilots decided to return and land safely at Budapest. Passengers were transferred to a Malev flight bound for Bucharest later that day.

►It is rumored that Romanian Civil Aviation Authority intends to sell its Beech Super King Air 350 - calibration aircraft Click Here, to a private entity that would render runway-calibration services to Romanian airports in the near future.

►For the 2005 summer season Cimber Air and Schreiber-Tours are giving a boost to their charter flights between Denmark and Romania. Flights from Copenhagen - CPH and Billund – BLL to Tirgu Mures – TGM Click Here, are to be operated from April 30 to Oct 01 on Saturday and Wednesday with ATR 72-500 Click Here Schedules: CPH dep 12:30 – TGM arr 16:40, TGM dep 17:30 CPH arr 19.35; BLL dep 13:00 TGM arr 17:00, TGM dep 17:00 BLL arr 18:20

►Irish start-up operator Eirjet Click Here is launching summer charter flights between Dublin Collinstown – DUB and Constanta Kogalniceanu – CND Click Here Flights are scheduled every Sunday starting June 12 using an all Y 160 seat Airbus 320. Schedule: DUB dep 15:00 CND arr 20:35 CND dep 21:35 DUB arr 23:40

►A gay rights activist group has filed discrimination charges against TAROM - Romania's state-owned airline - after the company allegedly excluded gays from a Valentine's Day two-for-one discount sale for couples. It appears that several gay couples tried to purchase tickets but were refused by travel agents, who told them that TAROM's offer applied only to heterosexual couples. The National Board for Fighting Discrimination, a government body that enforces fair practices, said it fined TAROM $180 for ''restricting the free access, under equal conditions, to public services and places.'' The board also ordered the company to train its staff on issues regarding discrimination and equality, the council said. Homosexuality was a crime in Romania until 2001, when the government removed the offense from the penal code to comply with demands from the European Union, which Romania hopes to join in 2007.

►Canadian and American citizens of Romanian origin are currently petitioning the Romanian Government to allow resumption of Tarom’s scheduled flights between Montreal and Bucharest. If interested to sign-up Click Here

►It appears now that during his tenure as Tarom’s interim Managing Director Cristian Becerescu did not hesitate to sign and hand out his resignation when pressured by some politicians to hire an unqualified individual as the airline’s newest Quality and Safety Chief Inspector.

►Romanian Tour Operators are preparing more than forty weekly charter flights this coming summer to popular resort-destinations in Turkey, Spain, Egypt, Italy and Greece. Flights are scheduled to operate out of Bucharest, Timisoara and Cluj. New charter flights routes would include destinations in Israel, Croatia, Montenegro and Greek Islands. Served destinations: Antalya, Fibula & Kusadasi, Bodrum, Izmir, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Costa Brava, Tel Aviv, Rhodos, Heraklion, Thessalonica, Korfu, Creta, Malta, Rimini, Hurghada, Sharm-El-Sheik, Tunis, Dubrovnik, Tivat

►On March 27, Blue Air web.com Click Here is launching two new routes out of its Bucharest Baneasa hub: Rome Ciampino - CIA and Dusseldorf - DUS each with three weekly rotations. Air fares to both destinations starting at € 38.

►It appears that Blue Air web.com expressed some interest on some four 737-322 stored by United Airlines at Goodyear – Phoenix Litchfield Municipal –GYR Click Here and Click Here

►Bulgaria and Romania will set up a functional airspace block in what is described as the first step to consolidating the airspace in Southeastern Europe Click Here The system will be put into operation in October this year.

►A Tarom B737 scheduled flight bound for Dubai – DXB, was called to return for an emergency landing at Bucharest Henri Coanda International – OTP after an anonymous phone-call was received by airport’s officials indicating that no less than five bombs appeared to have been planted onboard the aircraft. A thorough search of the aircraft and a vigilant second baggage and passenger screening by the airport’s specialized anti-terror brigade concluded that the anonymous call was a hoax. Passengers were latter transferred to a different aircraft and made it safe to their destination.

►Romania’s National Tour Operator Association is demanding the executive to implement a zero fiscal policy on Tarom’s charter flights starting with 2006. The proposed tax exemption would allow Tarom the flexibility to offer cheaper fares on all its contracted charter–routes which in turn could generate more business opportunities for tour-operators on the incoming segment

►Although Carpatair Click Here didn’t reveal any data regarding its 2004 profit/loss, its turnover expectations for 2005 are flying around US $ 60 Mil or 20% higher than previous year. Carpatair is operating flights from six Romanian cities to 14 destinations in Italy, Germany, Hungary and the Republic of Moldova using a mixed fleet of Saab 2000 and Saab 340 turbo-prop aircraft. The airline is poised to add larger jet-aircraft to its fleet and open few more routes later this year.

►Lufthansa is launching a new six times weekly service between Dusseldorf - DUS and Bucharest Henri Coanda - OTP starting May 02, using CRJ –100 equipment. Flights are to be operated by Lufthansa CityLine subsidiary Click Here

►In a recent press conference Carpatair’s CEO hinted that Constanta Kogalniceanu – CND could play an important role on airline’s future plans to open routes to countries like Spain, France, Ireland, Turkey, Greece, Ukraine and Israel. The airline is expected to add an undetermined number of jet-aircraft (Boeing or Fokker) to its existing fleet of SAAB turboprops later in the year.

►Rumor has it that Lufthansa is currently negotiating a codeshare agreement with Carpatair on routes operated by the Romanian-Swiss airline between various points in Germany and Timisoara Traian Vuia International – TSR.

►It appears that Luxair will also launch summer charter-flights between Luxembourg - LUX and Constanta Kogalniceanu - CND using Boeing 737-700 equipment Click Here

►In yet another surprising move Carpatair Click Here announced that starting April 11, Tirgu Mures Airport will be connected six times weekly to its hub in Timisoara and further to the entire network of international destinations currently served by the airline. Flights are to be operated Monday trough Saturday departing Tirgu Mures 7:00 AM and retuning 4:25 PM.

►Although there is no official confirmation as of yet it seems that Germanwings Click Here is eying Timisoara and Bucharest as possible future low-cost destinations out of Stuttgart.

Mar 23-May 01

►Tarom’s goal for 2005 is to boost its domestic and International passenger traffic by 15% and to join the SkyTeam Alliance in the second part of the year Click Here

►Starting June 22, 2005, Skyservice Click Here a Canadian charter operator based in Toronto is launching summer charter flights between Toronto Pearson -YYZ and Timisoara Traian Vuia International - TSR. Flights are to be operated once a week every Wednesday from Pearson and every Thursday from Timisoara until Sept 14 with an all economy Y 233 configured Boeing 757-200ER. All flights are operating both ways via Dublin – DUB (refueling stops only)

►Tarom has worked out its list of summer charter destinations as following: Antalya - AYT five weekly, Bodrum – BXN five weekly, Heraklion – HER one weekly, Rhodes – RHO one weekly, Hurghada – HRG one weekly, Sharm el Sheikh – SSH one weekly, Barcelona – BCN two weekly, Rimini – RMI one weekly, Kristiansund – KSU one weekly, Evenes – EVE one weekly

►Instead of its newly announced Bucharest Baneasa - BBU to Dusseldorf - DUS route, BlueAir Click Here decided to swap Dusseldorf - DUS for Mastricht – MST. Flights are currently operated three times a week every Tu, Thu and Sat.

►As of June 01, Malev Hungarian Click Here will open regular service between Budapest Ferihegy - BUD and Constanta Kogalniceanu – CND. Flights are to be operated twice weekly with 67-seat Fokker F-70 Click Here. Outbound red eye departures on Tue, Thu from Budapest, early morning departures on Wed and Fri from Constanta

►Tarom dropped again its Bucharest Henri Coanda – OTP to Arad International-ARW. On the other hand Carpatair announced will take over the route on May 16 offering direct non-stop weekday services (Mon-Fri) between Arad and Bucharest with a 33 seat SAAB 340 Click Here. The flight is to be operated on a three month trial-period. Tarom used to fly the route with one alternating stop in Sibiu and Tirgu Mures using a 50 seat ATR 42-500.

►On April 26 Tarom will resume domestic flights between Bucharest Henri Coanda – OTP and Tirgu Mures – TGM via Sibiu – SBZ. The four weekly services are to be operated with ATR 42-500 equipment

►Chris-Air Click Here is the name of a start-up airline based at Suceava Salcea Airport – SCV. It appears that the airline has already started operating a series of mixed passenger and cargo flights to Ancona - AOI and Pescara - PSR using the newest (!!!???) Antonov An-74TK-300D. Click Here and Click Here Accordingly to its website, Athens and Barcelona maybe added shortly to its list of destinations

►As of April 26 Tarom is boosting its frequency on the Bucharest Henri Coanda -OTP to Timisoara Traian Vuia International –TSR route from three to four daily Monday to Friday using a 50 seat ATR 42-500 equipment.

►On April 19, low cost carrier Helios Airways Click Here commenced twice weekly services between Larnaca –LCA and Bucharest Henri Coanda International –OTP using an all Y 142 leather-seat Boeing 737-300.

►On June 23, Club Air Click Here is starting a new route between Palermo – PMO and Bucharest Henri Coanda International – OTP. Flights are to operated with BAe 146-200 three times weekly on Tue, Thu, Sat. On its way back from Bucharest to Palermo the aircraft is scheduled for a stop at Timisoara Traian Vuia International – TSR.

►As of April 18 Tarom and Austrian Airlines are codesharing on flights between Sibiu – SBZ and Vienna – VIE. Flights are operated by Tarom, Monday trough Friday with ATR 42-500 Click Here Vienna bound flight originates at Cluj. On its way back from Vienna to Sibiu, the aircraft has a scheduled stop in Cluj.

►The low cost carrier Meridiana announced its intention to inaugurate twice weekly flights between Florence - FLR and Bucharest Baneasa - BBU on May 31. Flights are to be operated with Airbus 319-112 Click Here

►Romavia leased and took delivery of an ex Meridiana BAe 146-200 from BAE Systems, reg no G-BVMS (msn E2227). The aircraft - Romanian registered as YR-BEA - will become operational for charter and Romanian Government VIP flights at the end of April. It appears that the aircraft was leased for five years Click Here

►It appears that Clubair is contemplating to add two more RJ’s to its existent fleet of five BAe 146-200.

►A partial list of charter airline serving Constanta – CDN on the peak summer season:

Adria Airways Click Here – from Ljubljana

Air Berlin Click Here– from Leipzig, Dusseldorf

Club Air Click Here – from Verona

Condor Click Here – from Frankfurt

Corsair Click Here – from Paris (ORY)

Eirjet Click Here – from Dublin

Finnair Click Here – from Helsinki

Germania Click Here - from Berlin, Munich, Hanover, Dusseldorf

LTU Click Here – from Berlin

Maersk Click Here –from Copenhagen, Billund

Malmö Aviation Click Here – from Copenhagen

Norwegian Air Shuttle Click Here – from Stavanger

Novair Click Here – from Stockholm

SAS Click Here – from Oslo, Stockholm

Tarom Click Here – from Kristiansund, Evenes, Paris (CDG), Luxemburg

►After entering Romanian controlled air space, a Belgian registered Learjet 35A OO-LFV Click Here have been intercepted and escorted to landing by a couple of Romanian Air Force MiG 21 Lancer. It appears now that the aircraft belonging to Abelag Aviation had improper filled documentation to enter Romanian air space. Somewhere on the way from Brussels to Bucharest the aircraft’s crew lost its radio-communication capabilities.

►A Carpatair’s SAAB 2000 Click Here, bound for Dusseldorf returned to Timisoara Traian Vuia –TSR for an emergency landing after hydraulic pressure in one of its engines suddenly dropped. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft turned back and landed safely at Timisoara.

►Shortly after takeoff from Bucharest Baneasa –BBU a MyAir Airbus 320 Click Here bound for Venice Marco Polo – VCE, returned for an emergency landing when sensors aboard the aircraft indicated the open status of locks and latching mechanisms on the doors, which prevents the enabling signal for cabin pressurization.

►During the peak summer season Carpatair will operate its newest Timisoara - TSR to Constanta route as a domestic one. The airline’s intention is to set up a second Romanian hub at Constanta Kogalniceanu – CND and open-up new scheduled routes to Istanbul - IST Click Here and Thessaloniki – SKG. Launching Middle Eastern destinations out of Constanta is another project that the airline is currently looking at. Local Black Sea tour operators are desperately looking into contracting-out additional air-seat capacity for the peak summer season. As a result Carpatair is now considering the opportunity to launch overnight charter-flights in and out of Constanta. It is also reported that Carpatair is negotiating a codeshare agreement with Lufthansa, which in turn may sweeten-up a deal for used jet-aircraft that the Romanian-Swiss airliner is currently seeking out.

►On June 01 Lufthansa is launching a six weekly (Mo-Sat) air-link service between Munich – MUC and Timisoara – TSR. The flight will be operated by Luthansa City Line with a 50 seat CRJ-100 equipment Click Here

►Constanta’s community business leaders are demanding from Romanian Government to take in consideration subsidizing charter flights operated by Romanian airlines in and out of Constanta Kogalniceanu International-CND at similar levels with those practiced by Governments of Bulgaria, Grece, Turkey and Egypt.

►During June 20 and Sep 1, Hellas Wings Click Here will operate weekly seasonal charter flights between Thessaloniki and Timisoara with 19 seats configured BAe Jestream 31 equipment

►BlueAir Click Here is pondering to open new routes out of Bucharest Baneasa–BBU to Paris and Madrid. What really hinders them back right now is the lack of available jet-aircraft.

2005 - ROMANIAN AIRPORTS NEWS

Dec 02 – Jan 10

►Romanian Government is expected to put up for sell some 15% of its stake in Bucharest Henry Coanda International Airport – OTP Click Here

►Arad’s local County Authority subsidies to its International Airport – ARW Click Here amounted to US $ 273,000 during 2004. A small profit is expected by fiscal year-end

►A helipad is to be built-up in the vicinity of Orastie Hospital

►Suceava Salcea Airport – SCV, budgeted some US $ 850,000 in revenues for its fiscal 2005 with zero profit expectation Click Here

►Starting January 01, 2005 Oradea Airport is levying a five Euro charge per passenger as “Airport Development Fee”. The fee is scheduled to be collected for the next five years and is expected to bring into airport’s coffer some 550,000 Euro. Once collected, funds are to be invested on infrastructure developments such as runway, taxi way and aircraft parking

► Suceava-Salcea’s Managing Director announced that starting March 31, 2005 the airport will open-up its gates to International air-traffic. It is also said that the airport’s management is currently holding exploratory discussions with interested airlines.

►Timisoara Traian Vuia Airport – TSR Click Here second Romanian ranked airport, handled over 400,000 passengers trough its terminals during 2004. The airport’s management is expecting a gradual increase on passenger traffic to 550,000 by the end of 2005. The airport completed recently an expansion to its International Terminal.

Jan 11 – Feb 14

►Arad’s Local County Authority announced its intention to enter a joint venture for the privatization of Arad International Airport - ARW Click Here and Click Here and Click Here and Click Here So far at least two airlines showed interest in taking a majority stake in the airport’s passenger terminal and adjacent parking lot. A complete privatization task book is currently in the works and will be provided to potential investors in early March. The Local County Authority is planning to hold just a minority stake in the ensuing venture. Pending successful completion, Arad International - ARW will become the first Romanian International Airport privately run and operated.

►Tirgu Mures Airport - TGM, officially inaugurated a brand new hangar. This facility will be the home of an EC-135 Click Here operated by the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD)

►In late January, a Chinese official delegation representing Hainan Province visited Arad International Airport - ARW and its adjacent Free Trade Zone

►Sources from Timis County Local Authority Administration are denying speculations surrounding the imminent privatization of Timisoara Traian Vuia International - TSR. In recent times Romania’s Ministry of Transportation, Construction and Tourism (MTCT) who owns the airport, intended to transfer some 40 % of its shares to the Local Authority Administration who’s intentions were to eventually enter a public/private venture with a foreign investor. Plans were ditched mid-way trough due to an unfavorable report filled by Romanian Secret Services (SRI)

►Golden Tulip Hotels Inns & Resorts a privately owned franchise company based in Amersfoort, Netherlands is planning to take over The SkyGate Hotel adjacent to Bucharest Henri Coanda International – OTP.

►Identifying Romania as a target market for trade missions, The British Airports Group (BAG) the leading Trade Association for UK exporters in the airport development sector held an informative seminar in Bucharest. BAG is part of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), the UK’s national aerospace trade association and represents over 200 companies of all sizes whose products and services are required in the strategic planning, finance, design, construction, equipping, securing, management and operation of airports.

►Besides the existing five weekly air-cargo service to Budapest, Arad International Airport - ARW is working on adding similar cargo-links with Venice and Vienna.

►Sibiu Local Administration officials requested the Prime Minister and Transport Minister to allow budget reserves for modernization of local airport. They suggested that Romanian Government should be able to obtain ISPA funds for this project trough the European Commission pre-accession framework. The ISPA program ((Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession) supports the environmental protection and transport sectors.

Feb 15 – Mar 23

►Pending a Romanian Government resolution Arad International Airport – ARW, will gain 14 hectares of land along its existing runway and will shortly proceed to fencing its perimeter in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulatory framework.

►Braila’s local authority is focusing its attention on securing a piece of land as future site for the construction of its own airport. The Italian Fincogero Group is involved in the project although it is said that an undisclosed American investor is ready to jump the wagon.

►At the end of March, Mures Local County Authority is called upon to decide the faith of its airport managing director. It appears that Tirgu Mures Airport failed to meet the European Union criteria for inclusion on Romania’s airports of regional importance. Fears that the airport will be left outside EU’s regional air-traffic routes could trigger a change in airport’s upper management.

►Customs Police, Department of Public Health and Romanian Information Service employees left behind their offices located inside the passenger terminal at Arad International but will continue to operate out of an adjacent building, which currently hosts a meteorological center. The move is expected to somehow improve passenger’s flow and comfort in and out of the terminal.

►Iasi local authorities are seeking a public-private partnership in order to modernize Iasi International Airport. Accordingly to local leaders modernization plans should include provisions for runway extension at 2,500 m

►Bucharest Henri Coanda International restricted public smoking inside its passenger terminals to special enclosed areas.

►It is said that a foreign entrepreneur expressed some interest on investing up to US $60 Mil to upgrade Deva’s Saulesti airfield to a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) facility. Essentially his plans are calling for a public-private financing in order to finalize necessary construction-work over a six months period.

►Cluj was the latest to host a periodical meeting of the Romanian Airport Association. Unfortunately ARA’s website haven’t been updated since inception so no info available regarding their latest discussion-agenda.

►There are fears among tour operators that Constanta Kogalniceanu - CDN may be off limit to civilian air-traffic once American troops and military equipment are to be deployed at MK airbase later this year. It is largely believed that Tulcea -TLC which have been modernized for some time now will be designated to handle all seasonal charter flights serving Romanian Black Sea Riviera.

►Arad International Airport – ARW, is to organize an open bid for a contractual upgrade-work (from CAT I to CAT II) to its existing main-runway lightning system

Mar 23-May 01

►Timisoara Traian Vuia International Airport –TSR, is planning a five years 94 Million Euro in expansion and infrastructure upgrades. Financing to be provided by EBRD and US TDA.

►Due to continuous heavy rain and flood Timisoara’s runway lightening system is/was out of commission and as a result, air-traffic operations during the night have been suspended. Among other airlines, Tarom conveniently redirected its late-evening flight between Bucharest and Timisoara to land at Arad International – ARW. It’s always helpful (and dirt cheap) to have an alternate ICAO CAT II airport just 45 km away from your intended destination. I think it’s time for Romanian Transportation Minister to budget some money for Arad’s much needed passenger terminal and runway extension !

►Tirgu Mures Airport – TGM, is planning to extend its aircraft parking platform and main runway. While passenger terminal still needs further upgrades, management is looking at a cargo-ramp project as well. Seasonal charter flights operated by Cimber Air to Helsinki-HEL and Copenhagen-CPH are definitely a gain for the airport, Carpatair is now operating daily to several European destinations via its hub in Timisoara, Tarom just launched a four weekly service linking Tirgu Mures to its hub at Bucharest Henri Coanda–OTP, there’s a lot of talk about management’s ongoing negotiations with other airlines interested to operate international flights out of Tirgu Mures to Budapest, Gyor, Prague, Frankfurt-Hahn, Rome, Nuremberg, Dusseldorf.. Definitely the future is looking much brighter these days for Tirgu Mures Airport.

►It seems that Arad’s International Airport – ARW privatization process was somehow put on hold at least for the time being. Suddenly Local Authority seems to be a little more cautious when talking about airport’s future development. After a few months of media-published warnings that a privatization bid is imminent in late March, Local Authority is now saying that it is in no rush on setting-out the process in motion yet. Accordingly to a Local Authority source a property-evaluation process - by a specialized consulting firm - is currently underway.

►In order to connect its airport to the European Union’s multi-modal transport network, Cluj Local Authority is seeking a motion to include the city of Cluj onto the Pan-European Transport Corridor IV. Currently from Romania only Arad, Bucharest, Constanta and Craiova are part of the 3.258 km long Pan-European Transport Corridor IV that runs from Berlin in the North to Istanbul in the South. In order to increase its chances for inclusion, Cluj – Someseni International Airport - CLJ must start working on building-up a cargo-terminal, an onsite or nearby hotel, extend its main runway and boost its regional air-traffic connections to more European destinations. Air-traffic surged 35 % in 2004 comparative with 2004 and it appears now that Czech Airline, Malev Hungarian and British Airways are all interested in operating routes out of Cluj to Prague, Budapest and London.

►In anticipation to a positive response and future financial support from Romanian Government - regarding the modernization and expansion of Sibiu Airport SBZ, Local Authority is currently accepting applications to select a specialized consultancy firm to take lead and coordinate all necessary work on a proposed 21 Million Euro project. Pending a Government decision the airport’s perimeter could be soon extended by 51 hectares.

►It is reported that Iasi Local Authority is continuing its efforts to build-up a public-private partnership in order to finance future modernization and necessary upgrades at Iasi International Airport - IAS. On those lines authorities ore organizing these days an open bid for contracting-out installation-work at its newly acquired ILS system. It is estimated that the system will become operational prior to the month of December 2005.

►The TDA Travis Design Associates a multi-disciplined firm specializing in the planning, design and construction of residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects around the world, have been selected by US Trade and Development Agency to conduct and submit a technical evaluation report about necessary modernization and upgrade work at Bacau’s Airport. Report’s conclusion is that necessary work at resurfacing the existent runway will cost an estimated US $10 Mil while another US $ 5 Mil would likely be needed to expand and upgrade the existent passenger-terminal. TDA expressed its availability to co-finance the proposed modernization project if Local Authority could work-out a provisional legal-frame to allow TDA to amortize its investment. So far Bacau’s Local Authority seems to be committed to cut a deal with TDA, and pledges to contribute with budgeted funds in excess of half million dollars towards the project. It appears that TDA is currently pursuing similar deals at Timisoara International - TSR and Suceava Salcea – SCV.

►Bihor’s Local Conty Authority introduced a motion to request a Government ruling on an application to upgrade Oradea’s Airport status to International.

►Local special-created committees from Timisoara and Arad Counties joined discussion in an effort to come-up with a common long-term strategy to pair-up, connect, and stream-line activities at their respective airports with the aim of providing better services to airlines and maximize operating profits in the process. A final report outlining a common frame-work will be submitted to the Romanian Minister of Transportation. At only 45 km apart from each other the two airports are looking-up at synchronizing and working together in a synergy similar to the one existent between Milan Malpensa and Bergamo Orio Al Serio.

►Local leaders from Iasi are in the hunt for British investors in order to finance future modernization and development of Iasi International Airport – IAS. On the other hand It appears that there’s a quite particular interest in UK with regards to future investments in the North-East part of Romania.

►It is reported that the mandatory separation of EU and Non – EU traveler-flows at Romanian airports have been completed at Bucharest Baneasa-BBU and Timisoara Traian Vuia-TSR. The process will continue and should be shortly finalized at Bucharest Henri Coanda-OTP, Iaşi-IAS, Sibiu-SBZ, Suceava-SCV, Craiova-CRA, Târgu-Mureş-TGM, Arad-ARW, Constanţa-CND

►Hunedoara Local County solicited a Government ruling on a resolution to place thirty-two hectares of land located at Saulesti air-field, under its direct administration in order to set in motion an US $60 Mil investment project to upgrade Deva’s Saulesti airfield to a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) facility. It appears that Investors from Germany an Austria expressed their interest in setting-up a public-private joint venture. Accordingly to local sources the airport could become functional within the next year.

►It appears that Tulcea Delta Dunarii Airport -TLC can not be currently certified by the Romanian Civil Aviation Authority so it can finally re-open its gates to air-traffic operations. Although Romanian Government and Local County Authority have invested heavily on modernizing and upgrading the airport’s infrastructure for the last few years, local population were inadvertently granted land adjacent to airport’s security buffer-zone.

►It is reported that Timisoara Traian Vuia International-TSR is currently confronted with an acute lack of space on aprons, aircraft parking areas and passenger-terminals. In the last four years the airport experienced a staggering 80.63 % increase on air-traffic activity.

2005 - USEFUL INFORMATIONS FOR TRAVELERS TO ROMANIA

Dec 02 - January 10

►Starting Feb 15, 2005 Romania and Chile are lifting visa requirements for citizens of the other country traveling on visits of 90 days or less, once every six months

Jan 11 – Feb 14

►The Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) Click Here announced its intention to open an ANTO office in Bucharest

Feb 15 – Mar 23

►Romanian Tour Operators are bound to fully reveal their 2005 summer-holiday offer at the annually held TNT National Tourism Fair in Bucharest on April 07 Click Here

►Air Berlin, Germanwings, Hapag-Lloyd Express (Germania) and Condor will operate charter flights between points in Germany and Constanta Kogalniceanu –CND (Black Sea) on behalf of TUI, Thomas Cook - Neckermann and ITS during 2005 summer season