Bankruptcy prediction and passenger boycott call

On 29 September 2026, Save Romania Union (USR) Senator Cristian Ghinea stated during a broadcast on the Comunitatea Liberală 1848 YouTube podcast that Romania's national airline TAROM faces bankruptcy within six months. The former Minister of European Projects and Investments asserted that the carrier is beyond financial recovery, advising travelers against buying flight tickets for journeys scheduled more than two months in advance. Ghinea stated that TAROM holds only a 6% share of the Romanian passenger aviation market, claiming the carrier no longer serves a strategic domestic transport function. He based his assessment on persistent financial losses, accumulated debt, and the risk that the company's 95 million euro restructuring plan will fail by the end of 2026 if state support cannot continue.

“Within the next six months, TAROM will go bankrupt! My advice is not to buy a ticket on TAROM for more than two months ahead!”

Airline rejects claims and cites fleet modernization

TAROM issued an official response on 2 October 2026 rejecting the senator's statements and describing the remarks as an act of commercial sabotage that directly benefits private aviation rivals. The carrier emphasized that it receives no subsidies from the state budget, operating on self-generated revenue in a competitive market while maintaining normal commercial flights. Management reported operational improvements, including an 82% seat load factor in August 2026 and an overall 5% increase across July and August 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. TAROM also outlined ongoing fleet modernization and unification efforts, which include the acquisition of four new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to consolidate flight operations.

Management and political pushback

The airline compared Ghinea to the mythological titan Cronus, stating that the political attack reflects an attempt to undermine TAROM just as it implements measures to achieve commercial viability. Management noted that the criticism arrived during aviation sector disruptions in Romania, where private operators have left passengers stranded while publicly discussing intentions to take over national flight routes. Former Social Democratic minister Alexandru Rogobete published a statement on Facebook urging politicians to leave the carrier alone, arguing that the company needs stable investment rather than public television commentary.

“TAROM needs professional management, investments, and a serious development strategy. Not statements tossed around on television, and not experiments done on the back of a strategic Romanian company.”

Trade unions prepare legal action over restructuring

TAROM trade union leaders responded to Ghinea's comments with threats of legal action, accusing the lawmaker of attempting to weaken the carrier in favor of foreign budget competitors. Union leader Constantin George stated that employees would actively defend the airline against efforts to displace it, noting that the management of low-cost carrier Wizz Air had previously expressed interest in acquiring TAROM's domestic route network. Union representative Narcis Pascu clarified that the European Commission issued a letter in June 2026 agreeing in principle to grant a one- or two-year extension for the 95 million euro restructuring package, though final progress depends on national political stability. Marius Popescu, president of the Association of Romanian Aeronautical Companies, also condemned Ghinea's statements, arguing that public officials should not undermine the national carrier.