Rolls Royce wins big order for Trent 700 engines

Rolls Royce announced Wednesday that it has received its first order for as many as 12 Trent 700 engines for the Airbus A330-200 freighter from Guggenheim Aviation Partners (GAP). The engines have been selected by GAP for up to six of its aircraft.

The deal is estimated to be worth around $200 million to Rolls Royce at current list prices. As a sweetener, Rolls Royce has included a service package as part of the deal, under which it will take full responsibility for engine maintenance.

Rolls Royce said that deliveries are scheduled to start in 2010.

"The Trent 700 is the most capable engine for the A330F, providing freighter operators with the greatest operational flexibility in terms of route and network options. It is also the cleanest and quietest engine for the aircraft, making it an excellent choice for operators to minimize their environmental impact.

"This decision also establishes a new relationship for us as Guggenheim Aviation Partners joins the growing list of Trent customers," said Chris Cyr, executive vice president - Americas at Rolls Royce.

According to Rolls Royce the Trent 700 is the only engine available on the A330 that was specifically designed for the aircraft.