Rolls-Royce announces major Airbus deal on day one of Farnborough show
MIDLANDS aerospace giant Rolls-Royce today announced that Airbus has selected its new Trent 7000 as the exclusive engine for the new Airbus A330neo.
The announcement – which does not include financial details of the deal – co-incides with the Farnborough International Airshow which takes place this week.
The Trent 7000, launched today, is the seventh member of the Trent engine family.
Over the last 19 years, Rolls-Royce Trent engines have accumulated more than 75m flight hours. The majority of modern wide body aircraft, either in service or on order, are powered by Trent engines.
Rolls-Royce says the Trent 7000 will deliver a step change in performance and economics compared to the current version of the Trent 700. It will improve specific fuel consumption by 10%, have twice the bypass ratio and will halve perceived noise.
Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce president, civil large engines, said: “The Trent 7000 is the natural selection for the A330neo, bringing together our engine experience, design architecture and leading-edge technology. “
Fabrice Bregier, Airbus president and chief executive officer, said: “The A330neo is the logical evolution of our reliable and versatile A330 Family. It provides an optimal solution for airlines around the world looking to minimise their fuel and operating costs while offering best-in-class comfort to their passengers.
“We see strong market potential for the A330neo and we are confident this new aircraft will be a success in the medium-haul segment.
“The Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 combines world-leading experience and cutting-edge technology to play a vital role in ensuring the success of this aircraft for decades to come.”
The first engine test run for the Trent 7000 is planned for 2015 with certification expected in 2017, supporting an aircraft entry into service in Q4 2017.
