Rolls-Royce reported a new contract it describes as its largest ever for new jet engines and support services, from the Dubai-based airline Emirates. The $9.2-billion order covers Trent 900 engines for 50 Airbus A380 aircraft that will enter service for Emirates beginning in 2016. It also covers Rolls’ TotalCare support program services to Emirates.
The Airbus A380 is a four-engine wide-body aircraft that is often described as “the world’s largest passenger jet,” and designed to compete with Boeing in the “jumbo jet” class of commercial carriers.
In 2010, Emirates ordered 32 new A380s, adding to previous order placements and bringing its total order for the Airbus jets to 90, for delivery by 2017. That indicated Emirates would operate a fleet of 120 A380s, but in 2013 the carrier placed another order for 50 more A380s.
Rolls’ Trent 900 is a series of high-bypass turbofan jet engines, in service since 2004 and available in four variants. Two of these, the Trent 970B-84 and Trent 972B-84, are principally featured on the Airbus wide-bodies.
Trent 900 engines powered the first commercial A380 flight in 2007, and it has been selected by eight carriers on more than 70 aircraft, logging over 4 million in-service flight hours. Rolls claims the engine offers the lowest lifetime fuel burn, with the latest version including technology developed for the Trent XWB and Trent 1000 engines.
Rolls-Royce stated the new Emirates order establishes the Trent 900 as “the engine of choice” on the Airbus jumbo jets, giving it more than 50% market share on those aircraft, in addition to being selected by the majority of A380 customers.
“The success of Emirates over the last 30 years has been extraordinary,” commented John Rishton, Rolls-Royce CEO. “Rolls-Royce has been proud to have been part of this success, powering Emirates aircraft since 1996. We are delighted that Emirates has again placed its trust in our technology, with the biggest order in our history.”
