Dutch aircraft maker Rekkof Aircraft is in talks with Air France-KLM as a possible customer for its planned new version of the Fokker 70 regional jet, the company said on Wednesday.
Rekkof hopes to start building the 70 seat planes this year, as early as the current quarter, a spokesman for the company said, confirming a report in German business daily Handelsblatt.
"We are talking to KLM," the spokesman said. "We hope to start building this year."
Handelsblatt said British engine maker Rolls-Royce was closely linked to Rekkof's plans for the new planes, which include raising at least EUR150 million (USD$185 million) from investors.
Rekkof has been in talks with suppliers for almost a year and is close to reaching a decision on whether production will go ahead, a person familiar with the negotiations said. The planes will be built in Amsterdam.
Rekkof is also in talks with a second potential customer and total orders may exceed 50 planes, it said.
Planemaker NV Koninklijke Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker filed for bankruptcy in April 1996 following heavy losses.
Rekkof, Fokker spelt backwards, wants to relaunch the Fokker 70 after abandoning an attempt five years ago.