Marius Pandel, CEO of AnimaWings: Within one year, we have grown to a fleet of seven aircraft and successfully launched 30 new routes
28/04/2026 by Animawings / General
The airline AnimaWings has reached a fleet of seven aircraft and launched 30 new routes within just one year of operations, with plans to introduce new services and acquire additional aircraft.
“The first AnimaWings flight took place in July 2020, while the first scheduled commercial flight was on January 15, 2025. Within one year, we managed to launch around 30 new routes. In Romania, we currently operate a fleet of seven aircraft, with an eighth set to join us soon. We are proud to have the newest aircraft fleet in Romania and one of the newest in the world. The latest Airbus A220 model places a strong emphasis on passenger comfort,” said Marius Pandel at the ZF Logistics, Transport and Automotive Conference 2026.
He also stated that, first and foremost, the vision behind AnimaWings was to connect cities across Romania and ensure mobility.
“Our goal was to bring Romania together. We wanted to create mobility at a national level because, even though we don’t have islands, Romania somehow functions like one. The north and the south of the country are completely disconnected, and the business environment feels this. For example, a person living in Baia Mare has no real connection with someone in Tulcea. It’s as if they live in entirely different countries.”
When we talk about air transport, we’re not only referring to tourism or large corporations, but also to smaller companies, lawyers, and doctors who can carry out their activities much more easily and expand their businesses as long as they have mobility.
“If you have to travel from Baia Mare and spend two days on the road to reach Tulcea, you’re definitely not going to import fish to resell it. But if you can travel three, four, or five times a week in less than an hour, land, handle all your meetings and business, and feel that you can manage everything remotely, then clearly that business will grow.”
What else did he say at the conference?
Unfortunately, most banks in Romania tend to offer you money when you already have it, not when you actually need it.
The aviation industry is extremely regulated. We come from an entrepreneurial background—young dreamers who started out decades ago in the tourism sector. Our operations initially relied heavily on charter aircraft, so transitioning into aviation came naturally.
We already understood the passenger experience, especially for leisure destinations. We knew that Romania lacked a full-service airline that could be modern, relevant to today’s standards, operate a new fleet, and truly represent the country.
An airline is the first ambassador of a country. Romania is already an ultra-saturated market dominated by low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers. At a European level, two major airlines already serve Romania, accounting for over 60% of traffic. One of them alone holds more than 50% of the market share. This means the market was already highly saturated, and a flagship airline—like in any country—should proudly carry the national identity on its fuselage and act as an ambassador.
If we want to attract inbound tourism in the future, there is a need for a Romanian airline capable of connecting destinations across Europe—and beyond—with Romania.
The entire Romanian tourism industry aims to attract passengers and tourists who also contribute economically—real tourists, not just short weekend visitors.
