Etihad expands Trent fleet with latest A340 order

Etihad Airways, the fast-growing Abu Dhabi airline, has placed a repeat order for Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines to power four additional Airbus A340-600 aircraft.

The business is valued at $200 million at engine list prices. The aircraft will be delivered in 2008 and 2009.

At a contract signing in Paris, James Hogan, Chief Executive of Etihad Airways, said: “We’re pleased to be partnering with Rolls-Royce to develop a state-of-the art fleet that will enable us to continue to deliver a world-class service to our customers.”

Sir John Rose, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce, added: “This announcement of repeat business is evidence of confidence, both in the qualities of the Trent series and of our delivery of tailored aftermarket services. I am delighted to be expanding our role in Etihad’s ambitious plans.”

Etihad will eventually operate three versions of the Trent, having previously placed orders for 14 Trent 700-powered A330 twinjets as well as four, high-capacity A380s with the Trent 900.

The A340s in today’s announcement are in addition to an initial order for eight of the ultra-long-distance four engined airliners – four A340-600s and a similar number of the longer range A340-500.

Latest generation A340s are powered solely by the Trent 500.