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Fokker receivers

mull new production

AMSTERDAM: Receivers for aircraft maker Fokker NV are considering whether to allow the company to build more planes than the 15 agreed for completion when the 77-year old firm went bankrupt last month, a spokesman said.

"When we went bankrupt on the 15th of March we said we would complete around 15 aircraft which were in an advanced state of production," said Fokker spokesman Leo Steijn, adding that would keep the production line open until June.

"What we're now looking at is building another 12-18 aircraft beyond that," he said. This would keep the line open for a further eight to 12 months.

Fokker went bankrupt last month following weeks of struggle after parent Daimler Benz Aerospace Fof Germany cut a cash lifeline.

Steijn said Fokker was pushing to extend its production because customers were pressing to take delivery of the planes they had ordered and even new customers had emerged.

But strict control would be needed to persuade the receivers to allow an extension of production. "What we need from our customers is a guarantee that they're willing to take the aircraft, plus a financial guarantee," said Steijn, adding advance payment would be needed.

"If they're really serious about taking delivery of the aircraft there should be no problem," said Steijn, pointing out that it would be in the receivers' interests to maximise any potential out of Fokker.

He said continuing production could also keep alive Fokker's survival hopes. "If we can continue to build aircraft that would also buy time," he said, adding it would take away the pressure of bankruptcy deadlines that have dogged previous bid talks.

Steijn declined to say how much revenue production of 12-18 new planes could generate. "It depends on the customers. In this industry there are no sticker prices anymore."-Reuter