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Fokker 70

Fokker · Fixed Wing / Regional Jet Airliner · Netherlands · Modern (1992–2009)

Fokker 70 — Fixed Wing / Regional Jet Airliner
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The Fokker 70 is a Dutch twin-engine, T-tail, rear-fuselage-engined short-haul jet airliner — a shortened derivative of the Fokker 100 aimed at the 65-80 seat feeder market. First flight came on 4 April 1993, and Sempati Air of Indonesia put the type into commercial service in February 1995. Between 1993 and 1997, 47 airframes were built before Fokker's March 1996 bankruptcy halted the line. Fokker had pitched the 70 as a smaller running mate to the Fokker 100, intended to replace late-life F28 Fellowships, but the launch coincided with the feeder-jet market's broader shift toward the Bombardier CRJ and Embraer ERJ-145 — and Fokker's collapse left the type stranded short of its commercial potential. In 2026, 25-30 Fokker 70s remain in service, principally with KLM Cityhopper (Netherlands), Alliance Airlines (Australia), and a handful of private and corporate operators.

Configuration is a low-wing, T-tail cantilever monoplane, 30.9 m long with a 28.1 m wingspan — the wing is essentially identical to that of the Fokker 100. Empty weight is 22,673 kg and MTOW 39,915 kg, the airframe sitting about 4.5 m shorter than the Fokker 100 with reduced MTOW. Two Rolls-Royce Tay 620-15 turbofans (~13,850 lbf each, the same engine as early-build Fokker 100s) drive cruise at 845 km/h (525 mph; Mach 0.77). Service ceiling is 10,670 m (35,000 ft), with a range of 2,010 km carrying 70 passengers. The shorter fuselage seats 65-80 in standard 2-3 abreast layout, against the Fokker 100's 107-122. Distinctive touches include the shared Fokker 100 wing, T-tail, integral airstairs, and a glass cockpit, in a smaller package suited to routes where the 100 was too large. The Fokker 70 was the company's last new product before bankruptcy, and represents a 'right-sized 70-seat jet' concept that Embraer later scaled successfully with the E170 / E175 family.

Civil airline customers spanned Sempati Air (Indonesia, launch operator, February 1995), KLM Cityhopper (the principal long-term operator), Pelita Air Service, Air Niugini, Alliance Airlines (Australia, current), Royal Brunei Airlines, Austrian Arrows, and several smaller European feeder carriers. The Royal Netherlands Air Force flew a single Fokker 70 (PH-KBX) as the Dutch royal family and government VIP transport from 1996 until 2017. KLM Cityhopper retired its fleet in 2017 in favour of the Embraer 175 / 190, ending the type's principal long-term scheduled service. Alliance Airlines became the largest current operator after 2017, slotting the Fokker 70 alongside its Fokker 100s for charter work and FIFO mining contracts.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Fokker 70 is a Dutch jet airliner that holds 65 to 80 passengers. It first flew in 1993 and entered service with Sempati Air of Indonesia in 1995. The Fokker 70 is a shorter version of the Fokker 100, designed for shorter flights with fewer people.

The Fokker 70 has two Rolls-Royce Tay 620 jet engines mounted on the back of the body, not under the wings. Top speed is 525 mph, faster than most race cars. The plane is 101 feet long with a 92-foot wingspan, smaller than a Boeing 737. The tail is T-shaped, with the horizontal part high up on the fin.

Only 47 Fokker 70s were ever built. Fokker, the famous Dutch plane company, went out of business in 1996 before the Fokker 70 had a fair chance in the market. The Brazilian Embraer and Canadian Bombardier soon built better small jets that took over.

About 25 to 30 Fokker 70s still fly today. The biggest operator was KLM Cityhopper of the Netherlands, which retired its fleet in 2017. Australia's Alliance Airlines now operates the most Fokker 70s. The Dutch royal family also flew a special Fokker 70 as their official plane from 1996 to 2017.

Fun Facts

  • The Fokker 70 holds 65 to 80 passengers, smaller than most airliners.
  • Top speed is 525 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The Fokker 70 is 101 feet long, smaller than a Boeing 737.
  • Only 47 Fokker 70s were built before Fokker went out of business in 1996.
  • The Fokker 70 has a T-tail, with the horizontal part high up.
  • KLM Cityhopper retired its Fokker 70s in 2017.
  • About 25 to 30 Fokker 70s still fly today.

Kids’ Questions

Why is the tail T-shaped?

The horizontal tail is mounted at the top of the vertical fin, making a T-shape. This keeps the tail away from the engines on the rear body. Many small jets like the Fokker 70 use this design. The downside is that the tail can stall (lose lift) at high angles of attack, which is harder to recover from.

Why did Fokker go out of business?

Fokker was an old Dutch plane company, founded in 1912. By the 1990s, the Brazilian Embraer and Canadian Bombardier built better small jets at lower cost. Fokker could not keep up. The company went out of business in March 1996, before the Fokker 70 had a fair chance to sell. Only 47 Fokker 70s were built.

Why are some still flying?

The Fokker 70 is a good small jet that still works for short flights. Alliance Airlines of Australia operates the most Fokker 70s for charter and mining-company flights. KLM Cityhopper flew Fokker 70s until 2017, then switched to bigger Embraer jets. Smaller airlines keep using Fokker 70s because they are cheap to buy and easy to fly.

Variants

Fokker 70 Standard (initial 1995)
Original 70-seat feeder jet variant with Tay 620-15 engines. Sempati Air was launch operator in February 1995. The principal commercial production version — only 47 built before Fokker's 1996 bankruptcy halted the line.
Fokker 70ER (extended range)
Higher-MTOW long-range version with increased fuel. Limited production. KLM Cityhopper was the principal operator.
Fokker 70 VIP (executive)
Executive transport variant. A single example, PH-KBX, served the Royal Netherlands Air Force as the Dutch royal family VIP transport from 1996 to 2017.

Notable Operators

KLM Cityhopper (former, Netherlands)
Principal long-term operator. Around 26 Fokker 70s in fleet at peak, forming the backbone of European feeder service from 1996 to 2017. Retired in 2017 in favour of the Embraer 175 / 190.
Alliance Airlines (Australia, current)
Current largest Fokker 70 operator. Integrated with the carrier's Fokker 100 fleet after 2017 for charter work and FIFO mining contracts in Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia. Roughly 10-12 Fokker 70s in the 2026 fleet.
Royal Netherlands Air Force (former VIP)
A single Fokker 70 (PH-KBX) served as Dutch royal family and government VIP transport from 1996 to 2017. Replaced by a Boeing 737-700 BBJ.
Smaller current operators
Smaller Fokker 70 fleets remain with PNG Air (Papua New Guinea), Air Niugini (former), and corporate / charter operators in Asia and the Middle East.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Fokker 70 not succeed commercially?

Bad timing and a parent-company collapse. The Fokker 70 entered service in February 1995. Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA), Fokker's parent, decided in early 1996 to stop funding Fokker losses, and Fokker filed for bankruptcy in March 1996. Total production reached 47, with most orders placed before the bankruptcy and many cancelled afterward. The 70-seat feeder-jet market Fokker was targeting was later dominated by the Embraer E170 (first delivery 2004) and Bombardier CRJ700 (first delivery 2001), both backed by manufacturer continuity and CF34 engines whose fuel burn the late-1980s-era Tay 620 could not match. In effect the Fokker 70 established the 70-seat feeder-jet category that other manufacturers later captured.

How does the Fokker 70 compare to the Fokker 100?

Same wing and tail, shorter fuselage. The Fokker 70 retains the Fokker 100's wing, tail, Tay 620 engines, cockpit, and most systems essentially unchanged, but the fuselage is 4.5 m shorter, dropping capacity from 107-122 passengers to 65-80. The pitch was 'Fokker 100 economics for thinner routes', yet operators that valued Fokker commonality preferred a single Fokker 100 fleet across all routes, while those needing sub-100-seat aircraft chose turboprops (Fokker 50, ATR 72) or later 50-90 seat jets (CRJ, ERJ-145). The Fokker 70 ended up a niche product even within Fokker's own family.

Why did KLM Cityhopper retire its Fokker 70 fleet in 2017?

Fleet renewal and parts cost. By 2017 the KLM Cityhopper Fokker 70s were around 22 years old, and major C-checks were becoming expensive as parts pricing rose after Fokker's bankruptcy. Parent Air France-KLM had ordered Embraer 175 and 190 fleets to standardise on one short-haul jet type with much better fuel efficiency — the CF34-powered E-Jets burn 20-25% less fuel per seat-km than the Tay-powered Fokker 70. Retirement was completed in October 2017, with the final commercial flight a sentimental Schiphol-to-Schiphol round trip flown by an all-Fokker-veteran crew. Several retired airframes went on to Alliance Airlines in Australia.

Are Fokker 70s still flying in 2026?

Yes — 25-30 airframes remain in service in 2026. Principal operators are Alliance Airlines (Australia, 10-12 in fleet integrated with Fokker 100 charter / FIFO services), PNG Air (Papua New Guinea), and assorted private, corporate, and charter operators. The type is gradually retiring as airframes age and parts become harder to source. Structural longevity is good — original certification covered 90,000 flight cycles — but parts availability and the rise of cheaper second-hand alternatives (Embraer ERJ-145XR, CRJ200) are eroding the operating economics.

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