One of six Airbus-approved outfitters for its ACJ corporate jetliner family, Stork Fokker Services (Booth No. 875) is expanding its activities in the VIP/corporate completion market alongside competitors such as Jet Aviation, Lufthansa Technik and TAT’s Sabena Technics.

Recently, a Middle Eastern customer chose Stork to perform the VIP conversion of an Airbus A321. The interior was to include a bedroom with adjacent shower and restroom, conference/dining room, lounges and a private office, as well as wardrobe space, galleys and lavatories. The plan was for the aircraft to arrive this July for completion and delivery in the first quarter of 2009. Unfortunately, according to business development manager Peter van Oostrum, the customer was unable to secure either a new or pre-owned A321, so Stork looked for alternative narrowbody Airbus to satisfy the need.

Van Oostrum also noted that Stork has been tapped to complete a new ACJ for the Austrian Stumpf group and it is in the process of outfitting a VIP cabin in the first A318 Elite. The Elite was delivered green from the Airbus factory in Hamburg in October 2007 and is due to be ready for a Middle Eastern customer by mid-year.
Last year, Stork converted a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet into an executive transport for another Middle Eastern customer, delivering it in June 2007. The conversion entailed removing the existing interior and installing a luxurious 21-seat, three-cabin executive interior based on an in-house design. The 2,100-cu-ft cabin includes new sidewall and ceiling panels and soundproofing, as well as satellite communications and in-flight entertainment equipment and cabin management systems. Carrying 21 passengers, the CRJ has a range of more than 2,100 nm.
In recent months, Stork has also boosted its maintenance business signing new contracts for its Abacus long-term aircraft support program. Among its clients are the Ford Motor Co.’s UK-based European flight department, which has contracted the company to provide repair services and rotable parts exchange for its fleet of Fokker 70 corporate shuttles.