Romanian tennis legend Simona Halep terminates contract with struggling carrier AnimaWings

Former tennis player Simona Halep announced on Friday, October 2, that she decided to terminate her ambassador contract with Romanian airline AnimaWings, which filed for insolvency earlier on the same day.

On Wednesday, September 30, AnimaWings announced it had launched “a judicial reorganization process” because of repeated technical problems with its Airbus A220-300 fleet. The plane model is infamous for such troubles.

“These were compounded by the pressures of a difficult economic context, reduced purchasing power, prolonged political instability and rising oil-related costs, which continue to put pressure on operating costs in the global aviation industry,” the company said, cited by News.ro.

Days later, the company suspended all flights and filed for insolvency due to a series of critical problems.

Passengers who had tickets with AnimaWings were told that they would be reimbursed or that their trip would be reorganized, if possible.

Halep said she learned about the situation AnimaWings is going through from the press.

“I, too, was taken by surprise by what happened. I entered into this partnership in good faith, based on the information and context presented to me at the time and because I believed in the potential of this Romanian project. I have not had and do not have any role in the company’s management or in its commercial, financial or operational decisions,” she said in an Instagram story.

The former tennis player said the situation was unpleasant for all parties involved and that the company’s priority should be to find solutions for the people affected by its financial troubles.

“I would also like to point out that so far I have not benefited financially from this partnership,” Halep argued, noting that she pays close attention to the brands with which she associates.

Halep became the face of AnimaWings back in May. At that time, she praised the company and said that "there is great potential for this Romanian brand to grow."