Romanian Civil Aviation Authority Faces License Suspension and Financial Crisis

Romania's civil air traffic regulator, ROMATSA, is confronted with two simultaneous threats. A court ruling has suspended its operating licence, jeopardising its legal ability to direct civilian air traffic. In a separate legal dispute, the state was ordered to pay Pfizer around €600 million for COVID‑19 vaccines, cutting off the bulk of ROMATSA’s revenue – about 85 % of its income – and leaving the agency with only a few weeks of operating funds.

Because of these risks, the government is evaluating a contingency plan to temporarily transfer air‑traffic‑control responsibilities to the armed forces, though no timetable or staffing details have been set. At the same time, interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan used Romania’s Aviation Day to honour the Air Force, reiterating the government’s commitment to modernising defence infrastructure and maintaining air‑space security.