Rolls-Royce has announced significant investments in its assembly, test and shop visit capacity in the UK and Germany to address the increasing long-term demand for new civil large engines and enhance customer aftermarket support services for its global Trent engine fleet.
According to projections outlined at last year’s Capital Markets Day, Rolls-Royce anticipates an annual increase of 7 – 9% in Rolls-Royce-powered aircraft in service for the remainder of the decade. Additionally, the company forecasts engine flying hours to reach 120 – 130% mid-term compared to 2019 levels.
To prepare for this growth trajectory, Rolls-Royce is investing £55 million and recruiting over 300 individuals, distributed between its operations in Derby, UK, and Dahlewitz, Germany. Approximately half of the investment and about two-thirds of the job opportunities will be located in Derby.
The investments encompass:
Expansion of engine build capacity in Derby, aiming to deliver over 40% more new engines per year starting from 2025, compared to the average deliveries over the last decade. This expansion will also augment service capacity.
Utilization of existing engine test capability for civil large engines in Dahlewitz to meet near-term services demand before transitioning to assemble and test new Trent XWB-84 engines in 2026.
These investments follow the recent announcement of a £1 billion investment in a continuous improvement program for the Trent engine family.
