Rolls-Royce A350 revision

Rolls-Royce is to revise its plans for an engine for the Airbus A350 following the European jet maker’s announcement of a revamp of the troubled aircraft.

The jet engine manufacturer said it concluded a preliminary agreement to supply a new and unnamed next generation Trent engine for the A350 XWB twinjet, which will replace the Trent 1700 that Rolls-Royce had originally developed for the A350. A spokesman said that the early development work could be transferred across to the new engine.

Airbus said the new engine would have between 75,000 and 95,000 pounds of thrust and would have five per cent lower engine maintenance costs and lower emissions and noise levels.

Separately, Rolls Royce announced the Trent 1000 engine has been chosen by International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to power up to 20 firm and option Boeing 787 Dreamliners in a deal worth up to $600m. ILFC is scheduled to receive the first of its Trent-powered Boeing 787s in 2010.

In addition, the

Trent

1000 has also been chosen by Air New

Zealand

, Northwest Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and Icelandair. Firm orders have now been placed for a total of 99

Trent

1000-powered Boeing 787s.