Ansett Australia and the Fokker 50

Ansett along with DLT of Germany were the launch customers for the Fokker 50 turboprop airliner

In 1983, Fokker audaciously launched the simultaneous revamp of their F27 Friendship and F28 Fellowship product lines with what would be come the Fokker 50 and the Fokker 100.

DLT in Germany (now Lufthansa CityLine) and Ansett Australia were the launch customers for the Fokker 50- Fokker's business case rested on drawing from existing F27 and FH227 customers as likely to acquire the Fokker 50. Incorporating a host of improvements introduced over the course of the F27's lengthy production run (1955-1987) as well as new generation engines, aerodynamics and cabin improvements, the F50 ended up being a remarkable improvement from the F27, most notably a 30% reduction in fuel burn.

Ansett had taken delivery of some of the last F27s built, so the delays in the F50 program were not acute issues for the airline. The first ten orders were from Ansett though the first ten airframes were a mix of deliveries to DLT and Ansett.

Ansett's initial F50 operations were based out of their Sydney hub, flying stage lengths up to 400 km.

The Fokker 50 program represented a change in marketing and sales strategy for Fokker- whereas the F27/F28 were marketed heavily worldwide, the F50/F100 programs focused heavily on established large airlines and mature airline markets like the United States. Only a small portion of the F27 production flew in the United States and Fokker considered the post-deregulation regional airline market a key segment to target.