Rolls-Royce secures huge order from Delta Air Lines
MIDLANDS aerospace giant Rolls-Royce has won a $5bn (£3.2bn) order for Trent engines and long-term TotalCare service support from Delta Air Lines to power 50 new aircraft.
Trent XWB engines will power 25 Airbus A350s and Trent 7000 engines will power 25 Airbus A330neo aircraft.
The Trent XWB is the fastest-selling wide body engine ever with more than 1,500 engines already sold. It will power the first A350 XWB into service later this year. The Trent 7000 was launched this year as the exclusive power plant of the new A330neo and has already been selected to power a total of 152 aircraft.
Nat Pieper, Delta Air Lines’ vice president of fleet strategy and transactions, said: “We are pleased to be working closely with Rolls-Royce to power aircraft that will be a vital part of our future, providing a new level of excellence on our Pacific, Atlantic and Latin American routes.”
John Rishton, chief executive, Rolls-Royce, said: “We are proud to be selected to power Delta’s new generation of aircraft and look forward to deepening our relationship with a long-standing and valued customer.
“It is further evidence of the success of the Trent XWB in the market and represents a powerful vote of confidence in our newly-launched Trent 7000.”
Rolls-Royce has also been selected by France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) to provide Trent 700 engines and support, to power 12 Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Armée de l’Air.
France has become the fourth nation to select the Trent 700-powered MRTT aircraft, following the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Singapore.
Bob Stoddart, Rolls-Royce, president customer business – defence, said: “Following the recent signature of the Franco-British Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Feasibility Phase contract, selection of Trent 700-powered A330 MRTT aircraft by both nations demonstrates that they remain committed to maintaining their strategic air power capabilities using the world’s most advanced equipment.”
