F-28 Went on Sale

   A clipping from the Financial Times on 31Jan1995 announced the sale of a Fokker F-28 aircraft, highlighting how traditional channels such as newspaper adverts remained key in commercial operations, even as communication technology was rapidly advancing during the 1990s.
    The plane, which had been reported stored at Ciampino Airport in Nov1994, had been out of service for some time. It had been retired by Unifly Express, an airline that once operated four F-28s, originally acquired following the absorption of assets from the company Alinord.
Unifly Express’s financial situation deteriorated quickly, ultimately leading to the cessation of its operations. While leased aircraft were returned to their owners, those forming part of the airline’s own fleet had to be sold off. Among them was the F-28 registered I-TIAP -msn. 11009-, offered for sale through various channels, including international newspaper adverts.
    The advert appears to have been successful, as the aircraft eventually found a new home in the fleet of Peruvian airline Aerocontinente, through the intervention of an American investor.

Never delivered #25

 

Fokker presented its F-28 PH-MOL (cn.11003) to KLM; however, the airline showed no interest in the aircraft, contending that it could not compete against Boeing or Douglas with a "small Fokker." Initially, the only Dutch carrier to procure the F-28 was Martinair, which acquired an F-28 Mk.1000 (PH-MAT). It was not until the late 1970s that a KLM subsidiary finally purchased the F-28: NLM, which eventually became a prominent operator of the Mk.4000 variant.

Source: Interview with Fokker test pilot Abe van der Schaaf on upinthesky.nl.

PB Air

 

Photography by Andrew Hunt published on airliners.net

PB Air was a regional airline in Thailand, founded in 1990 by Piya Bhirom Bhakdi, the chairman of the Boon Rawd Brewery. Initially, it operated flights solely for company staff, but in 1995 it gained a licence to run charter flights, and by 1997 it had started offering commercial services. Among its aircraft, it operated three ex Linjeflyg/SAS Fokker F‑28‑4000 Fellowship jets, which were in service for only a few years. From Bangkok's two international airports, Changi International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport, to Roi Et, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Krabi, and Phetchabun, and some international destinations, before being replaced by more modern jets such as the Embraer ERJ‑145. Despite its expansion plans, the airline faced financial difficulties and eventually ceased all operations in 2009.

All F-28s were sold to Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

* msn.11116 HS-PBD dd 23Nov1999 – Dec2002 (sold to GECAS). Named “Dui-Dui”.
* msn.11120 HS-PBC dd 18Oct1999 – Dec2002 (Sold to GECAS). Named “Pakpao”.
* msn.11123 HS-PBA dd 04Oct2000 – Dec2002 (Sold to GECAS). Named “Chula”.

There is a DVD that documented the daily life of PB Air's F-28s.