TAROM (RO, Bucharest Henri Coanda) is to sell the Romanian government an A318-100 for use as a VIP transport. Local newspaper Adevarul says Bucharest has since abandoned talks with the Italian government in a bid to drive through the acquisition from Tarom.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta had ordered his government to acquire an aircraft when it emerged that it was the only one in Europe lacking an official jet. Previous transport arrangements had included the lease of aircraft from Tarom, which had proven costly thus necessitating the acquisition of its own.
Tarom has four A318-100s in its eclectic fleet. They are used to operate flights to France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Turkey and Austria.
