Airasia X selects Rolls-Royce Trent 700 package worth $1.3 billion to launch A330 long-haul start-up operation

AirAsia X, the long-haul low cost start-up airline, has selected the Trent 700 to power its new fleet of 15 Airbus A330-300s. The deal, worth over $1 billion at list prices, also includes a TotalCare long term service agreement.

Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia, said: “The Trent 700 is the best engine choice for us on a number of levels. It will give us the widest choice of routes and the greatest revenue-earning opportunities. For a low-cost operation such as ours, supporting the engine with TotalCare also gives us the ability to have a predictable cost base which is crucial for us to be competitive. We are pleased and proud to be working with Rolls-Royce as we launch our new, long-range services.”

Mark King, Chief Commercial Officer – Civil Large Engines at Rolls-Royce, added: "It’s incredibly exciting to be involved in this ambitious new airline from the very beginning. We’re confident that AirAsia X can emulate the success that has been demonstrated by its short-haul relative. I am convinced that the Trent 700, as the most environmentally friendly engine on the A330 and the market leader, will perform a key role in Air Asia X’s growth plans.”

Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia X (operated by AirAsia subsidiary Fly Asia Express) is set to formally launch medium and long haul operations in September 2008.

The Trent 700 is the market leader on the A330 with a 49 per cent share of orders and 42 customers and operators. Of the A330s that have been ordered by airlines in Asia, 61 per cent have selected the Trent 700.

It is the most environmentally friendly engine on the A330, being the quietest and cleanest available for this aircraft, with the greatest margin to CAEP 4 legislation.

Annalie Brown
Communications Manager – Civil Aerospace
Rolls-Royce plc
Tel: +44 (0)7966 878229
Fax: +44 (0)1332 265940
Email: annalie.brown@rolls-royce.com

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