Etihad expands Rolls-Royce Trent fleet with new A330 order

Rolls-Royce announced today that Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has chosen the Trent 700EP to power a further eight Airbus A330 aircraft. The Trent 700EP is the latest and more fuel-efficient version of the best-selling engine for the A330.

The value of the engine business, including a TotalCare® long-term services contract, is $575 million at list prices.

The A330 aircraft, which will be delivered between 2009 and 2011, will bring Etihad’s Rolls-Royce powered A330 fleet to 24.

The Trent 700 is the only engine designed specifically for the A330. With over ten million hours in service, it also represents the lowest noise, lowest emission and most efficient fuel burn for engine types fitted to the aircraft. Recent improvements include increased fuel efficiency resulting in a significant 1.3 per cent improvement in fuel consumption on new build engines and a 1.0 per cent improvement on engines fitted with the EP retrofit kit.

Mark King, President, Civil Aerospace for Rolls-Royce, said today: “Etihad is an ambitious, fast-moving airline and this order for more Trent 700s demonstrates its confidence in the Trent family. We are building on a relationship that began when the airline began operations in 2004 and these new aircraft with improved Trent 700EP performance will complement Etihad’s growing Trent-powered fleet. The contract further endorses the added value our aftermarket services bring to customers.”

James Hogan, Chief Executive of Etihad Airways, said: “This continuation of our relationship with Rolls-Royce helps us to develop our state-of-the art fleet, which in turn allows us to sustain a world-class service to our customers"

Etihad already has nine A340s powered by the Trent 500 supported by TotalCare contracts on order or in service. The airline also has two A340s due for delivery in 2009. In addition, the airline has ordered Trent XWB engines for 25 Airbus A350 aircraft.

The Trent 700 has 53 per cent of the A330 market and the continuous improvement and incorporation of advanced Trent family technology will offer increased benefits to customers, including the lowest fuel burn of any engine on the A330.