Rolls-Royce and Air India have signed an MoU for 68 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, plus options for 20 more. The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine exclusively powers the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. Air India has also ordered 12 Trent XWB-84 engines, the sole engine option for the Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
This is the first time that an Indian airline has ordered the Trent XWB engine and the deal will make Air India the largest operator of the Trent XWB-97. Financial details of the order are not being disclosed.
The Trent XWB will support Tata Group and Air India’s ambitious growth plans for the airline, providing reliability, flexibility and efficiency to its fleet as it takes on ultra-long-range routes between India and the U.S. The choice of the latest generation of Rolls-Royce engines also reflects Tata Group’s vision for Air India to become the world’s most technologically advanced airline, with a focus on service, competing on the world stage to deliver best-in-class customer experience.
The size of the Air India order reflects the increasing demand for air travel in India, which now has the third biggest airline market in the world and is ranked as the fifth largest economy globally. The rise of aviation has been fuelled by continued business growth, favourable government policies, sustained infrastructure development, rising disposable incomes and the travel aspirations of its young, affluent middle class. Industry forecasts show that air passenger traffic in India is expected to grow at more than 6% per year and the industry will require more than 400 medium and large aircraft to support demand.
