Tarom is the national airline of Romania, with its main base at Otopeni Airport, Bucharest. It operates scheduled domestic services and international services to Europe and the Middle East. It is owned (91%) by the Romanian state (Ministry of Transportation).
In 1925, the city of Galati became the first domestic Romanian destination. In 1926, the airline changed its name to The International Air Navigation Company, (CIDNA). In 1930 it changed its name to LARES (Liniile Aeriene Române Exploatate de Stat), and in 1937, LARES was merged with competitor SARTA (Societatea Română de Transporturi Aeriene).
It was established on 8 August1945 as a joint Romanian-Soviet undertaking named Transporturi Aeriene Romana Sovietica. It started operations on 1 February1946. The Soviet share was purchased by Romania and the airline renamed on September 181954. The airline became known as Tarom (Transporturi Aeriene ROMâne, meaning Romanian Air Transport). By 1960 Tarom was flying to most important capitals in Europe, and in 1966 operated its first trans-atlantic flight. 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. It also has a frequent flyer program and is under contract with Schabak and Wooster Plastic Planes to make their model airplanes.
On March 31, 1995 a TAROMAirbus A310-324 (YR-LCC) operating on Bucharest OTP - Brussels route crashed soon after the take-off killing all people onboard.
