The F.VIII was Fokker's first twin-engined airliner, a reflection of the increasing power available from the light radials engines of the time.

All their previous designs had an engine in the nose, and its absence in the F.VIII lead to less prop-wash wear and tear on the fuselage and much lower vibration levels for passengers.

The first aircraft used 358 kW (480 hp) Bristol Jupiter radial engines built under licence by Gnome-Rhone, strut mounted and uncowled under the wings.

KLM later re-engined theirs with 391 kW (525 hp) Pratt and Whitney Wasp T1D1 radials, cowled with Townend rings and mounted further forward than the Jupiters.

There were concerns that this arrangement, which became standard in later propeller driven aircraft would seriously disturb the airflow over the upper wing.

The standard cabin accommodated 15 passengers seated three abreast, but KLM chose a more luxurious 12-seat arrangement, well received at the time.

The Hungarian Malert company bought one aircraft and had another three built under licence at the Manfréd Weiss factory, all using Gnome-Rhône Jupiter 9A engines.

Thus the airplane first flew with civil identification code SE-AEB but later on it got its Swedish Air Force designation, 916.

The Finnish Air Force's sole Fokker F.VIII was the ex-KLM Wasp-powered H-NAEI, production number 5046.

Ten flights were made before the aircraft was destroyed on 27 September 1941, due to engine failure caused by air in the fuel system.