China Airlines signs for Trent XWBs and TotalCare®

Rolls-Royce and Taiwan’s China Airlines have signed a contract for Trent XWB engines to power a fleet of 14 firm and 6 option Airbus A350 XWB twinjets. The potential value of the business, which includes a long-term TotalCare® services agreement, is US$1.3 billion at engine list prices. Deliveries begin in 2015.

Selection of the engines was announced in December 2007 following the signing of a Letter of Intent between the airline and Airbus. It is the first time Rolls-Royce has been chosen as an engine supplier by China Airlines and marks the debut of the Trent series in Taiwan.

Announced orders for the programme, including spare engines, total over 800 Trent XWBs with 13 customers.

The Trent XWB is available in a range of thrusts from 74,000 to 92,000 lb, and a single engine type will power all versions of the A350 XWB.

Final engine configuration and selection of technologies for the Trent XWB are scheduled to be completed by mid-2008 leading to the start of ground-testing in 2010. A flying test bed programme will begin the following year, followed by airworthiness certification and first flight on the A350 XWB in 2012.

By the time the Trent XWB enters service, Trent series engines will have accumulated more than 75 million flying hours.

TotalCare, tailored for individual operators, offers a range of services from Rolls-Royce covering all aspects of asset management in support of its civil aerospace products. Building on the company’s knowledge, experience and infrastructure, these services include elements such as predictive maintenance, logistics management and global repair and overhaul offerings.


Note to Editors

1.

Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, has over the last ten years established a strong position in fast growing global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
2.

At the end of November 2007 Rolls-Royce employed around 39,500 people in 50 countries. Around 23,300 are employed in the UK, 8,300 in North America, 2,300 in Germany, 3,400 in the Nordic countries, about 680 in Asia (with an additional 2,000 working in joint ventures) and about 1,520 in the rest of the world.
3.

Annual sales were £7.4 billion in 2006, of which 87 per cent were to customers outside of the UK. New product development is carried out on a global basis with 50 per cent of new programmes developed outside the UK. Overall 53 per cent of the Group’s 2006 annual sales came from services revenues. The firm and announced order book at 30 June 2007 was £35.1 billion, of which aftermarket services represented 33 per cent, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
4.

The Group has businesses headquartered in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia and China. This global presence allows the Group to access long-term international growth opportunities with its technology, presence, partnerships and people.
5.

Rolls-Royce invests in core technologies, products, people and capabilities with the objective of broadening and strengthening the product portfolio, improving efficiency and enhancing the environmental performance of its products. Capital and IT investments made by the Group over the last five years exceeded £1.0 billion. Sales per employee have improved by more than 7 per cent compound over the last ten years.

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