Statement re BMW Rolls Royce

ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
23 September 1999


US$100M FOR BMW ROLLS-ROYCE AS 717-200 GOES HAWAIIAN 

Rolls-Royce plc today announced that BMW Rolls-Royce BR715 turbofan engines
worth more than US$100 million will power up to 20 Boeing 717-200 regional
jets to be ordered by Hawaiian Airlines. 

The announcement comes on the day the first Boeing 717-200 is being delivered
in Long Beach, California and British Airways received its first Airbus
Industrie A319 powered by the V2500 from International Aero Engines, the
consortium of which Rolls-Royce is a major stakeholder. 

Hawaiian Airlines has signed a letter of intent to order 13 aircraft with
rights to purchase an additional seven, with deliveries due to start in
February 2001. 

Launch customer AirTran Airways takes delivery of the first 717-200 later
today at the Boeing facility in Long Beach. The carrier has ordered 50 firm
aircraft and has options on a further 50. To date there are 115 orders and 110
options for the 717-200, and Hawaiian's aircraft will be added to the order
book when a definitive agreement is signed

Earlier today, Bob Ayling, Chief Executive of British Airways, Stephen Byers,
Secretary of Trade and Industry, and Dr Dietrich Russell, Airbus Chief
Operating Officer, unveiled the A319 at Birmingham Airport, where the aircraft
will operate as part of British Airways' regional fleet. 

In August 1998, British Airways ordered up to 188 V2500- powered A320 family
aircraft.  Deliveries are scheduled to continue through to 2005.

For further information please contact:

Martin Brodie
Head of International Media
Rolls-Royce plc
Tel: [phone]  Fax: [phone]
Website: www.rolls-royce.com