Fokker signs co-operation contract with COMAC

COMAC ARJ21

Fokker Services has signed a co-operation contract with COMAC to bring the first Chinese business jet to the market. The contract is to convert the ARJ21-700 regional jet into a business jet.

The announcement was made on the first day of the Paris Air Show.

Last year, COMAC announced the first customer for the business jet variant of its recently certified aircraft for which the companies will now co-operate.

The conversion will be developed by Fokker and COMAC in The Netherlands, while the final conversion and delivery centre will be performed at COMAC’s manufacturing division, Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Company Ltd (SAMC) in Shanghai.

Fokker has a great deal of experience in converting regional aircraft into business jets and has converted aircraft such as the Fokker F28, F70 and Bombardier CRJ700.

Peter Somers, president of Fokker Services said: “We are proud of our strategic relationship with COMAC, whom we have been co-operating with intensely for the last few years. COMAC has recognized our expertise in aircraft conversions and completions.”

“We are proud of our strategic relationship with COMAC, whom we have been co-operating with intensely for the last few years.”

“We are especially excited to be involved in the conversion of the first Chinese built Business Jet. We feel that together we are entering a new stage in aviation,” added Somers.