Tarom halfway to SkyTeam membership

Announced on various occasions over the last year few years by the chief executives at the helm of Tarom, the entry of the national airline operator in the SkyTeam alliance has been officially endorsed by the alliance that comprises some of the world”s largest operators. Tarom could become a full-fledged member of the SkyTeam alliance in 2006, after signing an affiliation agreement with SkyTeam, announced Leo van Wijk, CEO of the Dutch operator KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The integration into one of the airline alliances was deemed by airline consulting companies as Tarom”s only chance in its position of regional operator to cope with the increasingly fiercer competitive environment in its industry. “By joining the SkyTeam, Tarom will see its revenues increase due to it gaining access to the network of its partners (some 900 destinations), as well as a reduction in certain operating costs. Tarom”s passengers will get the benefits of the SkyTeam alliance customer loyalty programme and the services provided on the airports where the alliance members operate,” Tarom officials said. ZF