Romania eyes Arab air carriers, Turkish Airlines as potential partners for Bucharest airport, Tarom

Ponta will also meet with the management of Emirates and Etihad in the next few days, he told a news conference in Qatar on Sunday. A video file of the news conference was posted on the government's website.

"[...] we have a profit-making company which can develop very well, I am referring to the Bucharest airport, we also have a company which is still in the red, unfortunately, Tarom, and I believe Romania must and can be a regional hub for one of the big companies in the region, but we must be serious," Ponta told reporters.

The Henri Coanda airport in Bucharest is one of the airports that has developed the most in the region but it needs more investments as it has reached its limits in terms of infrastructure, Ponta said, adding that this is the reason the government plans to list the company on the Bucharest Stock Exchange,

In the case of Tarom, the government is looking for a partner to help restructure and save the company since it cannot be listed in its current state, he added.

Ponta also said negotiations would start when, and if, a partner shows interest in the two companies, but declined to elaborate.

Ponta is visiting the Gulf states between April 30 and May 5. His tour will include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.