Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100

Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100 - A New Regional Jet is Born

In the early 1990s, the aviation landscape was rapidly changing. Major airlines were looking to replace their aging fleets of turboprop planes with modern regional jets that provided better performance and passenger comfort on short-haul routes. Sensing this emerging need, the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker set out to develop a capable regional jet to compete with offerings from Bombardier and Embraer.

After lengthy development, Fokker rolled out the Fokker 100 in late 1987. This twinjet airliner was optimized for flights up to 1,100 nautical miles and designed to carry over 100 passengers. Compared to noisy first-generation regional jets, the Fokker 100 provided a smoother, quieter and more comfortable passenger experience.

Right from the beginning, the Fokker 100 found success with launch customers like American Airlines and USAir. Its ideal size and operating economics made it popular for connecting smaller cities to airline hubs. Pilots appreciated its modern fly-by-wire controls and spacious cockpit. Between 1987 and 1997, Fokker produced 283 Fokker 100 aircraft at its Amsterdam facility.

For a period in the 1990s, it seemed like the Fokker 100 was here to stay. Its order book was full, and global demand for regional jets was projected to keep growing. Major Fokker 100 operators included American Airlines, TAM Airlines, US Airways, Austrian Airlines and Ansett Australia. On some routes, airlines even configured the plane with a small first-class section that passengers raved about.

Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100 - Early Success for the Fokker 100

Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100 - Operational Challenges Emerge

Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100 - Fokker Goes Bankrupt, Production Halted

Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100 - Second Life for Retired Fokker 100s

Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100 - Remembering the Fokker 100's Brief Heyday

Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100 - The Rapid Rise of Regional Jets

In the early 1990s, the aviation landscape began a tectonic shift as major airlines started replacing their aging fleets of turboprop planes with a new generation of regional jets. These modern two-engine regional jets offered better performance, increased range, and a vastly improved passenger experience compared to their noisy, shaky predecessors.

Sensing a major opportunity, aircraft manufacturers pivoted their focus towards designing capable regional jets to meet this burgeoning demand. Canadair (now Bombardier) rolled out the CRJ100/200 series starting in 1992 which found instant success with airlines looking to right-size aircraft on short-haul routes. Competitors followed suit, with Embraer launching its ERJ family and Fairchild Dornier introducing the 328JET.

But it was really the E.U. Joint Aviation Authorities' decision in the early 90s to do away with the 60-passenger limit for twin-engine aircraft that opened the floodgates for regional jets. This critical rule change meant that planes like the CRJ and ERJ no longer needed three engines to carry more than 60 passengers - thus improving efficiency.

With their optimal 100-130 seat capacity, smooth ride, and operating economics, regional jets were a win-win for both airlines and passengers. For airlines, regional jets allowed them to profitably serve routes that were too long for turboprops but too short for mainline jets. And passengers benefited from faster point-to-point jet service to smaller cities, rather than cumbersome connections.

By the late 90s, regional jets were one of the few bright spots in an otherwise turbulent industry. While mainline jet orders slowed, North American airlines were snapping up regional jets as fast as the manufacturers could produce them. Between 1996 and 2002, North American carriers doubled their regional jet fleet from 515 to 1,084 aircraft.

The regional jet revolution ultimately reshaped the hub-and-spoke system. By using them to economically connect smaller cities with major hubs, airlines could offer their valued elite frequent flyers jet service from their home airports. And by moving more short-haul flying to their regional partners, major airlines could optimize their mainline fleets.

Gone Too Soon: The Brief History of the Fokker 100 - What Led to the Fokker 100's Early Demise

The Fokker 100 entered service with great fanfare in the late 1980s, seeming poised to dominate the booming regional jet market well into the 1990s. Yet barely a decade later, this capable airliner met an abrupt and premature end. What factors led to the Fokker 100's shockingly rapid fall from grace?

According to aviation industry experts, the Fokker 100 was ultimately the victim of a perfect storm of adverse factors beyond its control. Despite its strong safety record and popularity with passengers, a confluence of broader industry dynamics and unfortunate timing conspired to cut short its success.

For starters, the regional jet field quickly grew hyper-competitive during the 90s, with Bombardier and Embraer aggressively pricing their newer offerings to grab market share. Though a solid aircraft, the Fokker 100 began looking dated alongside fresher designs. Fokker's small size also put it at a disadvantage compared to the marketing clout and economies of scale its rivals could leverage.

But the biggest nail in the Fokker 100's coffin was its manufacturer's financial deterioration. As the 90s progressed, Fokker struggled to adapt to a changed aviation landscape and a strong U.S. dollar. After losing millions on development of the Fokker 50 turboprop and Fokker 120 regional jet, the company piled on debt and began bleeding cash reserves.

This sent Fokker into a death spiral from which it could not recover. Despite multiple government bailouts, the company finally went bankrupt in 1996. With factory production halted, existing Fokker 100s instantly lost their maintenance and support ecosystem. This severing of lifelines meant short-haul airlines lost confidence in the orphaned aircraft almost overnight.

While passengers still loved flying the smooth, quiet Fokker 100, most carriers judged that its future was too uncertain. When financiers refused to back Fokker 100 leases and parts became scarce, operators saw the writing on the wall.

By retiring their Fokker 100s prematurely in droves, airlines unwittingly sealed the model’s fate. With the company gone, the rapid fleet groundings became self-reinforcing. And so the Fokker 100 family was left consigned to the history books, its time in service all too brief.