Trent 700 engines to power A330s

Rolls-Royce has been awarded $720m (£438m) to supply Trent 700 engines to power 10 Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330 aircraft.

The contract includes long-term service support.

Trent 700 engines will power six A330s ordered by Virgin Atlantic and four provided by aircraft leasing company AerCap, increasing the total number of AerCap Rolls-Royce-powered A330 aircraft to 23. Deliveries will start in 2011.

Steve Ridgway, Virgin Atlantic chief executive, said: ‘Our engine selection was based on both cost and environmental benefits and the Trent 700 was our choice on both grounds. Our engine order also signals our commitment to flying a modern fleet with the most fuel-efficient technology available.’

According to Rolls-Royce, the Virgin Atlantic A330 aircraft will feature an enhanced performance version of the Trent 700, which is said to improve engine fuel burn by a further 1.3 per cent.