Re Contract
8 December 2009
UNITED AIRLINES SELECTS ROLLS-ROYCE TRENT XWB ENGINES TO POWER NEW FLEET IN
$2 BILLION DEAL
Rolls-Royce has been selected by United Airlines to power its new fleet of
Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. The contract, for 25 Airbus A350 XWB plus TotalCare®
long-term service support, is worth $2 billion at engine list prices. The
aircraft are due to be delivered between 2016 and 2019. In addition, the
airline has also announced future purchase rights for a further 50 aircraft.
This agreement is Rolls-Royce's first large civil engine contract with United
Airlines.
John Tague, President at United Air Lines, Inc. said: "The Rolls-Royce Trent
XWB offers the power and economical efficiency we expect from the A350 XWB
while providing the performance and reliability our customers expect from one
of the world's largest airlines."
Mark King, President - Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, added: "This represents a
significant endorsement of our Trent XWB technology and its operational
advantage. We are delighted that United Airlines has put its trust in the
long-term performance advantages of Trent technology and TotalCare®."
Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines are specifically developed for the Airbus
A350 XWB and have been designed to minimise the aircraft's overall environmental
impact. It is the most fuel efficient and environmentally sensitive large
engine design on the market, with fuel efficiency ratings 28 per cent higher
than pre-Trent generation engines.
With today's announcement, firm orders for the Trent XWB engine total more than
1000 from 33 customers. The engine will enter into service in 2013, with
current orders extending beyond 2020.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
1. Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use
on land, at sea and in the air, has established a strong position in global
markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
2. As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce today has a broad customer base
comprising more than 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and
helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 marine customers,
including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an
installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
3. In 2008, Rolls-Royce and its partners invested £885 million on research and
development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the
environmental aspects of its products, in particular the reduction of
emissions.
4. The Trent XWB is the sixth member of the Trent family, the first of which
entered service in 1995. By the time it enters service in 2013 on the
Airbus A350 XWB the flying experience accumulated by all previous Trent
engines will total around 70 million hours.
5. Rolls-Royce and United Air Lines, Inc. ties span nearly two decades through
its relationship with International Aero Engines (IAE), in which
Rolls-Royce is a senior partner. United Air Lines, Inc. has the largest IAE
V2500-powered aircraft fleet in the world, with 55 Airbus A319s and 97
Airbus A320s.
6. A significant and growing industry player in North America, for more than
100 years, Rolls-Royce employs nearly 8,000 people at more than 66 US
locations in 26 states and seven sites in six Canadian provinces.
7. Rolls-Royce is expanding its US capabilities with a new manufacturing,
assembly and test facility - Crosspointe, located in Prince George County,
VA. This facility will manufacture discs, one of the most critical
components of the engine, which will be used in some of the company's
newest civil aerospace products, including the Trent XWB.
8. Annual underlying revenues were £9.1 billion in 2008, of which 52 per cent
came from services revenues. The firm and announced order book stood at
£57.5 billion at 30 June 2009, providing visibility of future levels of
activity.
9. United Air Lines, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAL Corporation,
operates approximately 3,300 flights a day on United and United Express to
more than 200 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key
global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America,
United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United
States. United also is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides
connections for our customers to 1,071 destinations in 171 countries
worldwide.
For further information please contact:
Mark Alflatt
Director of Financial Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7227 9307
mark.alflatt@rolls-royce.com
Nicky Louth-Davies
Director of Corporate Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7227 9232
nicky.louth-davies@rolls-royce.com
Website: www.rolls-royce.com