Romania’s flag carrier plans a second 737 MAX delivery by the end of September and two more in 2027, with the new jets intended for routes from Bucharest to major European capitals.
TAROM has received its first Boeing 737-8, beginning a four-aircraft 737 MAX renewal programme scheduled to continue through 2027.
- TAROM has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-8, the first 737 MAX to join the Romanian national carrier’s fleet.
- The airline says four 737 MAX aircraft will be added through 2027, including a second aircraft expected by the end of September 2026.
- TAROM plans to deploy its growing 737 MAX fleet on routes linking Bucharest with major European capitals.
- Boeing and TAROM say the 737-8 can reduce fuel use and carbon emissions by about 20% compared with the aircraft it replaces.
(NEWS) BUCHAREST, Romania, 2026-Sep-14 — /Travel PR News/ — TAROM has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-8, opening a new phase of fleet renewal for Romania’s flag carrier as it prepares to introduce a total of four 737 MAX aircraft through 2027. The aircraft is also the first 737 MAX to enter service with a Romanian airline, according to the delivery announcement from Boeing, TAROM and CDB Aviation.
The arrival gives travellers an early look at the aircraft type that TAROM intends to use on routes from Bucharest to major European capitals. In its own September 12 fleet update, the airline said the first 737-8 is part of a four-aircraft programme involving operational and financial leasing, with two of the jets supplied through CDB Aviation. A second aircraft is due by the end of September 2026, while the remaining two are scheduled to arrive in 2027.
A passenger-facing upgrade for TAROM’s European network
The new aircraft is intended to support TAROM’s restructuring plan, which places fleet renewal alongside route optimisation, operational efficiency and improvements to the passenger experience. Cristian Anghel, TAROM’s chief executive, described the delivery as a pivotal step in the carrier’s transformation and linked the newer aircraft directly to its effort to operate a younger and more efficient fleet.
For passengers, TAROM highlights the 737-8’s Boeing Sky Interior, including larger overhead bins, LED cabin lighting and a more contemporary cabin design. The carrier also points to larger windows and a lower noise footprint as part of the onboard and airport-community benefits associated with the type.
The first aircraft carries the name Mircea Lucescu, honouring the Romanian football coach. TAROM said the choice was intended to connect the aircraft with values such as performance, discipline and trust as the airline begins a new stage of its fleet programme.
Efficiency is central to the fleet change
According to the Boeing delivery announcement, TAROM’s first 737-8 is one of two aircraft being leased from CDB Aviation and will begin replacing older single-aisle capacity that includes four Boeing 737 Next-Generation jets. Boeing and TAROM state that the 737 MAX can reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by about 20% compared with the aircraft it replaces.
The aircraft is powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines and is designed for the short- and medium-haul missions that make up much of TAROM’s European flying. The airline says the new generation of narrow-body aircraft will help create greater fleet consistency while providing the operating efficiency needed for its restructuring programme.
Gavan Daly, CDB Aviation’s Head of Commercial for EMEA, said the lessor sees the delivery as part of TAROM’s wider modernisation strategy and a continuation of its partnership with Boeing. Mario Antonio Ebcim, Boeing sales director for Eurasia and India, said the introduction of the MAX marks a new chapter in Boeing’s relationship with the Romanian carrier.
Four-aircraft rollout continues into 2027
TAROM currently operates a fleet of 10 aircraft and serves more than 50 destinations either directly or through codeshare partners. The airline has been a member of SkyTeam since 2010, making the fleet renewal relevant not only to point-to-point travel from Romania but also to passengers connecting across partner networks.
The first 737-8 had been collected from Boeing in Seattle earlier in September and flown to Romania via Keflavík. Its arrival in Bucharest now shifts the programme from delivery planning into operational deployment, with the next aircraft expected within weeks and two further MAX jets to follow next year.
More information about the airline’s network and services is available from TAROM. Details on the aircraft delivery and Boeing’s commercial aviation activities are available through Boeing, while information about the leasing partner can be found at CDB Aviation.
