Rolls-Royce wins $1.8bn Trent XWB engine order from US Airways

Rolls-Royce announced today at the Paris Air Show that it has agreed terms with US Airways for Trent XWB engines to power a new fleet of 22 Airbus A350 XWB twinjets. With a TotalCare long-term services agreement, the order is worth over $1.8 billion at list prices. The aircraft are due for delivery from 2014.

US Airways also becomes a new customer for the Rolls-Royce Trent family of engines.

There are now 113 Trent-powered A350 XWBs on order with three customers, and 69 customers for all members of the Trent engine family.

The 75,000 – 95,000lb thrust Trent XWB is the sixth member of the three-shaft Trent engine series and is the only engine developed specifically for the 250-375-seat A350 XWB family.

US Airways President Scott Kirby said, “We’ve enjoyed great performance and reliability with Rolls-Royce engines on our Boeing 757 fleet, and have every confidence that the Trent XWB engines will make an outstanding choice for the 22 A350-XWBs we have on order. We look forward to continuing a great partnership with Rolls-Royce in the years ahead.”

Mark King, Chief Commercial Officer, Civil Large Engines, Rolls-Royce added: “We are bringing a wealth of experience to the development of the Trent XWB that will ensure it is the lowest risk design. With this assurance, and with the backing of TotalCare, US Airways can be confident the total cost of ownership for its fleet of Trent XWBs will be extremely competitive.”

The Trent XWB will use the latest available technology at entry into service from mid-2013 to give the best performance and the lowest environmental impact. It will be certificated at 95,000lb thrust from entry into service.

The relationship between Rolls-Royce and US Airways goes back over 40 years and the airline currently operates a fleet of 43 Boeing 757s powered by the RB211-535.

The order is contingent upon execution of definitive purchase agreements, expected in the coming weeks.