Amsterdam, January 20, 2010 –[ASDWire]– Today, at the 7th Fokker Operators Conference in Amsterdam, Fokker Services signed a FLYFokker Take Care agreement with Austrian Airlines. The agreement, with an estimated value of 130 Million Euro, is valid up to year 2020 and applicable for a fleet of nine Fokker 70 and fifteen Fokker 100 aircraft. It marks the introduction of the Take Care solution for mature operators as part of the complete FLYFokker program.

Since the introduction of the Fokker 70’s in 1995 and Fokker 100’s in 2004 with Austrian Airlines, Fokker Services has been providing logistical services and technical services. The new FLYFokker Take Care agreement marks the next phase in the relationship. It starts a continuous process with challenging cost reduction, technical performance improvement and the introduction of products to further increase passenger comfort.

FLYFokker
This fleet lifetime agreement fits within the innovative Life Cycle Support program for the Fokker fleet of aircraft, entitled FLYFokker, as launched at Dubai Airshow in November 2009. The agreement signed today is the third significant step in the development of the complete program, following the Take Off strategic alliance with Denim Air and a recently announced Take Over partnership with KLM Cityhopper.

The Take Care solution perfectly fits operators who have a Fokker fleet in full operation. It enables them to work with Fokker Services in a long-term partnership with key performance indicators as reduction of Direct Operating/Maintenance Cost, increased Technical Dispatch Reliability and passenger appeal.

As Martin Schmidt, Director Operations Procurement of Austrian Airlines explains: “This Take Care partnership with Fokker Services has mutually been developed over the past year and is crucial for the sustainable reliability and cost effectiveness of our Fokker operations. Part of the agreement is the implementation of new LED cabin lighting to even further increase the comfort of our valued customers, as our complete fleet has been equipped with the newest Fokker interior already. We expect to fly our Fokker fleet for many years to come, as the Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 are very cost effective, competitive and reliable aircraft in operation.”

Roland van Dijk, President of Fokker Services: ‘’After the recent FLYFokker program launch, this Take Care fleet lifetime agreement with Austrian Airlines as a mature operator of Fokker aircraft, is a major milestone in the program. Both parties worked hard on the development of the agreement, as a new way of working is required to achieve the challenging targets. We are proud to have Austrian Airlines as the first customer in the FLYFokker Take Care program and expect many more customers to join.’’

About Fokker Services
At present there are 700 operational Fokker aircraft across the world. The Fokker aircraft has earned a reputation for advanced technologies, comfort, operational reliability, low noise level and durability. Flying Fokker makes economic sense. Many consider the Fokker among the best mid size aircraft ever built. Besides the Fokker aircraft, Fokker Services is serving operators with the Bombardier Dash-8 and other Out of Production Aircraft, with it’s logistic flight hour program ABACUS.

FLYFokker, the full-service Life Cycle support program for Fokker aircraft, comprises four solutions (Take Off, Take Care, Take Over and Take Next) for the continued competitive operation of Fokker aircraft.

Source: Fokker Services