Fokker Services has signed a contract with Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac to convert the ARJ21-700 regional jet into a private jet. Comac last year announced the first customer for the business jet variant of its recently certified 90-seat airliner.

The conversion will be jointly developed by Fokker and Comac in the Netherlands, while the final aircraft outfitting activities and deliveries will be done in Shanghai at Comac’s Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing division.

Fokker brings its expertise in similar bizliner conversions with jets such as the Fokker F28 and F70, as well as the Bombardier CRJ700. “Such conversions fit extremely well with Fokker’s aircraft expertise, which involves more than interior conversion alone,” the companies said. Fokker Services also performs VIP completions for Airbus Corporate Jetliners and Boeing Business Jets.

“We are proud of our strategic relationship with Comac, whom we have been co-operating with intensely for the last few years,” said Fokker Services president Peter Somers. “We are especially excited to be involved in the conversion of the first Chinese-built business jet. We feel that together we are entering a new stage in aviation.”