Rekkof Aircraft has set a provisional internal cut-off date of April for its long-running plan to revive the Fokker 70/100 regional jet family, unless it is able to build on its first commitment for the type from a little-known Iranian regional carrier late last month.
Rekkof says a memorandum of understanding it signed at the Kish airshow with Simorgh Air for 25 80-seat Fokker 70 "New Generation" aircraft, with deliveries set to start from 2007, will have a "positive impact on other customers" delaying their decision to back the type. With government funding, Simorgh Air is tasked with developing a regional air network from Tehran and the southern Iranian city of Abadan, says Rekkof.
"Obviously we are very happy that we've signed our first agreement," says Rekkof commercial affairs director Matthijs de Haan.
The investment company behind Rekkof is understood to have imposed a deadline of early April by which to secure enough orders to re-start production of the the Rolls-Royce Tay 650-powered aircraft, estimated to be around 50. De Haan says the final go-ahead orderbook will also depend on the type of customer, order size and finance options.
He confirms that the end of March has been pencilled in as a possible cut-off date for the programme, but adds that the company is in "very advanced" talks with four existing Fokker 70 operators and will not give up plans to restart production if those talks are still progressing. Belgium's VLM Airlines, which is owned by Rekkof chief executive Jaap Rosen-Jacobson, could become another launch customer for the programme.
JUSTIN WASTNAGE / BRUSSELS
Source: Flight International
