Charger sets a new standard for supporting high voltage systems 

LONGUEUIL, QC, Jan. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney Canada today announced the development of an advanced mobile charging unit (MCU) capable of charging high-power batteries at up to 1500 volts, making it compatible with Megawatt Charging System standards the industry is advancing for high voltage power applications. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business.

The MCU was developed in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Innovative Vehicle Institute (IVI) as part of the RTX hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project.

“This is the latest example of our hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project, driving collaboration and innovation within Canada’s aerospace ecosystem to enable a more sustainable future for aviation,” said Alexandre Gagnon, vice president of corporate affairs, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “High voltage, bidirectional charging systems will be critical for a growing number of electric and hybrid-electric systems including aircraft, as well as other transport applications.”

The MCU is assembled from commercially available components and can deliver up to 280 kW and 1500 volts. In collaboration with IVI, Pratt & Whitney Canada developed a distributed control and protection strategy. The NRC focused on the hardware design, assembly, testing and delivery of two charger units, which will be used on the hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project. The charger’s bidirectional capability enables it to both charge and discharge batteries, which creates opportunities to recycle unused energy back into the electrical grid.

Pratt & Whitney Canada continues to progress in testing the propulsion system for the RTX hybrid-electric demonstrator, which targets a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency and reduced CO₂ emissions compared to today’s most advanced regional turboprops. In 2024, the propulsion system will be linked to batteries developed by H55 S.A., which will be charged using the new charger.

Hybrid-electric propulsion is a critical component of RTX’s strategy for enabling more sustainable aviation and supporting the industry’s goal of reaching net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com.

About RTX
RTX is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact corporatepr@rtx.com.
SOURCE: RTX

 

• Clear vision and strategy will create a high performing, competitive, resilient and growing business
• Mid-term targets set to deliver record future performance: operating profit of £2.5bn-£2.8bn, operating margin of 13-15%, free cashflow of £2.8bn-£3.1bn and return on capital of 16-18%
• Improved financial performance will create a stronger balance sheet and investment grade profile for the benefit of all stakeholders
• Focused strategy has identified investment priorities, partnership opportunities and supports a £1bn-£1.5bn gross disposal programme over next 5 years
• Current trading is in line with expectations and guidance for 2023 reconfirmed

Rolls-Royce is today holding a Capital Markets Day in which we are setting mid-term financial targets that will represent a step change in our financial performance.

Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic said:

Rolls-Royce is at a pivotal point in its history. After a strong start to our transformation programme, we are today laying out a clear vision for the journey we need to take and the areas where we must focus. We are creating a high performing, competitive, resilient and growing Rolls-Royce that will have the financial strength to control and shape its own destiny. We are confident in our ability to achieve these ambitions and have a clear and granular plan to deliver on our targets. We have made significant progress, with 2023 profit and cash forecast to be materially ahead of 2022.”

“We are setting compelling and achievable financial targets for the mid-term which will take Rolls-Royce significantly beyond any previous financial performance. This will benefit not just our shareholders but our people, customers and partners. We are building ‘one Rolls-Royce’. A company that can fully realise its potential, ensuring the excellence and innovation that helped shape the modern world, endures long into the future.”

Mid-term targets

We aim to make Rolls-Royce financially stronger and more resilient than it has been before. In the mid-term this means achieving:

• Operating profit of £2.5bn-£2.8bn,
• Operating margin of 13-15% with
• Free Cash Flow of £2.8bn-£3.1bn and
• Return on capital of 16-18%.

We have also set divisional mid-term targets for operating margin:

• Civil Aerospace has the biggest step change, improving from 2.5% in 2022 to 15-17%.
• In Defence we plan to improve from 11.8% in 2022 to 14-16%.
• In Power Systems, our shortest cycle and most diverse business, we plan to improve from 8.4% in 2022 to 12-14%

These targets are based upon our expectations for a 2027 timeframe. We expect a progressive, but not necessarily linear, improvement year-on-year, and if we can accelerate the achievement of our ambitions we will. These targets, the performance improvements that underpin them and the actions we require to achieve them, are owned across the Group and supported through rigorous performance management and clear lines of accountability. Our strong start to 2023 provides further confidence in our ability to deliver.

Strategic update

In February, we launched our transformation programme and strategic review to set out what we needed to do to take us to a new level of performance. We are building on our strong foundations and advantaged businesses to create a Rolls-Royce that can unlock its full potential.

Our new strategy will deliver our Rolls-Royce proposition. To:

• build a high performing, competitive and resilient business with profitable growth,
• grow sustainable free cash flows and
• build a strong balance sheet and grow shareholder returns.

It is based on four pillars:

1. Portfolio choices & partnerships: The markets we are choosing to operate in, businesses we want to invest in, and partnerships that will create truly winning positions.
2. Advantaged businesses & strategic initiatives: How we will create a competitive business, expand our earnings potential and improve our performance.
3. Efficiency & simplification: The importance of a company-wide focus to drive synergies that enable us to be more competitive and simplify the way we operate; and
4. Lower carbon & digitally enabled businesses: Our commitment to the energy transition, building on the tangible progress we have made to date, and capturing the benefits of becoming more digitally enabled.

Portfolio choices and partnerships: We are today setting out the strategic choices that we have made across the Group and providing details of the strategic initiatives that will deliver the step change in financial performance we are targeting.

In Civil Aerospace, we will focus on the widebody commercial airline market and business aviation where we can leverage the value from our Trent and Pearl engine families while investing for the future with our world-leading UltraFan engine programme. In Defence, we have opportunities for stronger performance and an increase in customer-funded investment across Transport, Combat and Submarines, where recently announced platform wins and international co-operations will drive further future growth. We can also leverage our expertise in adjacent nuclear fields such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors, which have both defence and civilian applications. In Power Systems, we will focus on our Power Generation, Governmental and Marine end-markets, where we see the strongest demand and an opportunity for better returns from our power-dense and reliable solutions.

In specific instances, partnerships can help to strengthen our market positions, build capability and scale, as well as de-risk and reduce capital investment. Our mid-term targets are not reliant upon securing such new partnerships and we will only partner if the potential for further value creation exists. In Civil Aerospace, we believe we are well positioned to re-enter the narrowbody market, by choosing a partnership approach for the next new engine programme, and our UltraFan technology is a vital step towards this. For our SMR venture, a broad set of partners will strengthen our position to deliver the overall solution and reduce the future capital call. In Power Systems, our focused strategy in power generation will make this business more efficient and competitive, and drive faster, profitable growth. We are also considering potential partnerships in Power Generation and Battery Energy Storage Systems to further grow our market position, broaden our offering and benefit from cross business synergies.

We are also clear where we will not invest and re-allocate capital to parts of the business where we can generate more value. We are today announcing a Group-wide divestment program, targeting gross proceeds of between £1.0bn and £1.5bn over the next five years, which do not form part of our Free Cash Flow targets. We will only sell assets at the right time and at the right price. For example, in Rolls-Royce Electrical we are looking at options to exit in the short run or alternatively for the right value, reduce our position to minority with an intention to exit fully in the mid-term. We believe, given the world-class capability we have built in Advanced Air Mobility, that this will represent good value to a third party and will allow us to focus on our core electrical engineering activities in Power Systems, Defence and Civil Aerospace.

Strategic Initiatives and Efficiency & Simplification

Our strategy is underpinned by granular strategic initiatives that are owned by each division. The largest step change in performance is in our Civil Aerospace division, where our 6 levers to improve widebody LTSA margins (extending time on wing, lowering shop visit costs, reducing product costs, keeping engines earning, implementing a new value-driven pricing strategy, and driving rigour on contractual terms and conditions) are key to achieving our targets. Time and material, spare engines and original equipment also contribute to improving profitability. Business Aviation initiatives also deliver strong performance improvement. In Power Systems, significant improvements are expected from initiatives focused on cost optimisation and key accounts in Power Generation and near-term growth in Governmental. In Defence, performance was already good, but there is still an opportunity to improve with commercial optimisation and efficiency initiatives. Across all of our businesses our efficiency initiatives and the choices we make will deliver sustainable savings of £400m-£500m in the mid-term, making us more competitively advantaged, resilient and fit for the future.

 Financial Framework

We are building a stronger balance sheet and aiming to achieve an investment grade profile in the near-term. From a leverage perspective, we will significantly improve our net debt to EBITDA ratio. This is supported by our sustainable growth in free cash flows, some of which we will deploy to reduce our gross debt. The increasing strength of our resulting liquidity position means we may look to close some of our more expensive undrawn facilities early. Once we have strengthened the balance sheet, we intend to re-establish shareholder distributions. Thereafter, we will optimise between shareholder distributions and further investing in the business.

Trading update and outlook

Our current trading is in line with the guidance provided with our Half Year results on 3 August 2023 and our guidance for the year is unchanged. Engine flying hours for large civil engines on long term service agreements were 86% of 2019 levels for the 10 months to end of October and in line with our expectation for 80%-90% for the full year. Our next scheduled update will be on 22 February 2024, when we will publish our Full Year 2023 results and provide guidance for 2024.

Due to physical capacity constraints, the Capital Markets Day event is by invitation only but there will also be a webcast starting at 12:30pm UK time today lasting for approximately four hours. The webcast details are available our website www.rolls-royce.com/investors and a replay will be made available after the event.

 About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens.
2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. We are committed to making our products compatible with net zero carbon emissions to meet customer demand for more sustainable solutions.
3. Annual underlying revenue was £12.69 billion in 2022, and underlying operating profit was £652m.
4. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69).

 

Rolls-Royce announces Flight100, Virgin Atlantic’s historic flight on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) takes off from London Heathrow to New York JFK today, marking the culmination of a year of radical collaboration, to demonstrate the capability of SAF as a safe drop-in replacement for fossil derived jet fuel, compatible with today’s engines, airframes and fuel infrastructure.

 

Flown on a Boeing 787, using Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, the flight marks a world first on 100% SAF by a commercial airline across the Atlantic. The milestone flight was made possible by a Virgin Atlantic-led consortium, including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, ICF and Rocky Mountain Institute, in partnership with Department for Transport.

 

SAF has a significant role to play in the decarbonisation of long haul aviation, and pathway to Net Zero 2050.

 

While other technologies such as electric and hydrogen remain decades away, SAF can be used now. Today, SAF represents less than 0.1% of global jet fuel volumes and fuel standards allow for just a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines. Flight100 will prove that the challenge of scaling up production is one of policy and investment, and industry and government must move quickly to create a thriving UK SAF industry.

 

As well as proving the capabilities of SAF, Flight100 will assess how its use affects the flight’s non-carbon emissions with the support of consortium partners ICF, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Imperial College London and University of Sheffield. The research will improve scientific understanding of the effects of SAF on contrails and particulates and help to implement contrail forecasts in the flight planning process. Data and research will be shared with industry, and Virgin Atlantic will continue its involvement with contrail work through RMI’s Climate Impact Task Force, which is part-funded by Virgin Unite.

 

The SAF used on Flight100 is a unique dual blend; 88% HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) supplied by AirBP and 12% SAK (Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene) supplied by Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The HEFA is made from waste fats while the SAK is made from plant sugars, with the remainder of plant proteins, oil and fibres continuing into the food chain. SAK is needed in 100% SAF blends to give the fuel the required aromatics for engine function. To achieve Net Zero 2050, the innovation and investment needed across all available feedstocks and technologies must be harnessed to maximise SAF volumes as well as continuing the research and development needed to bring new zero emission aircraft to market.

 

Rolls-Royce recently announced that it has proved all its in-production civil aero engine types are compatible with 100% SAF. This fulfils a commitment, made in 2021, to demonstrate there are no engine technology barriers to the use of 100% SAF.

 

Shai Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic, said:

“Flight100 proves that Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be used as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and it’s the only viable solution for decarbonising long haul aviation. It’s taken radical collaboration to get here and we’re proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further. There’s simply not enough SAF and it’s clear that in order to reach production at scale, we need to see significantly more investment. This will only happen when regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms, backed by Government, are in place. Flight100 proves that if you make it, we’ll fly it.”

Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Atlantic, said:

“The world will always assume something can’t be done, until you do it. The spirit of innovation is getting out there and trying to prove that we can do things better for everyone’s benefit.

“Virgin Atlantic has been challenging the status quo and pushing the aviation industry to never settle and do better since 1984. Fast forward nearly 40 years, that pioneering spirit continues to be Virgin Atlantic’s beating heart as it pushes the boundaries from carbon fibre aircraft and fleet upgrades to sustainable fuels.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be onboard Flight100 today alongside the teams at Virgin Atlantic and our partners, which have been working together to set the flight path for the decarbonisation of long-haul aviation.”

Mark Harper, Transport Secretary, Department for Transport, said:

“Today’s 100% SAF powered flight shows how we can decarbonise transport both now and in the future, cutting lifecycle emissions by 70% and inspiring the next generation of solutions.

“This Government has backed today’s flight to take-off and we will continue to support the UK’s emerging SAF industry as it create jobs, grows the economy and gets us to Jet Zero.” 

Simon Burr, Group Director of Engineering, Technology & Safety, Rolls-Royce plc, said:

“We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines are powering the first ever widebody flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic today. Rolls-Royce has recently completed compatibility testing of 100% SAF on all our in-production civil aero engine types and this is further proof that there are no engine technology barriers to the use of 100% SAF. The flight represents a major milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.”

Sheila Remes, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability, Boeing, said:

“In 2008 Virgin Atlantic and Boeing completed the first commercial SAF test flight on a 747 and today we will accomplish yet another significant milestone utilising a 787 Dreamliner. This flight is a key step toward our commitment to deliver 100% SAF-compatible airplanes by 2030. As we work toward the civil aviation industry’s net-zero goal, today’s historic journey highlights what we can achieve together.”

 

The Trent 1000 delivers exceptional fuel efficiency and environmental performance. It has been optimised specifically to power the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family of aircraft, applying latest technology whilst drawing on the experience of four previous generations of Trent engines.

 

ENDS

Imagery and video available here – further content will be shared after take-off

 

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens.
2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. We are committed to making our products compatible with net zero carbon emissions to meet customer demand for more sustainable solutions.
3. The annual underlying revenue was £12.69 billion in 2022, and the underlying operating profit was £652m.
4. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)

 

About Virgin Atlantic

1. Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the sixth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs more than 7,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 31 destinations across four continents throughout the year. Virgin Atlantic recently continued its expansion in the US, launching new routes to Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida.
2. Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers.  Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the global airline alliance’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
3. Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact.  The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies and has reduced its absolute carbon emissions by 35% over the last decade. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2027.  Later in 2023, Virgin Atlantic is leading an industry consortium to deliver the first 100% SAF flight across the transatlantic. Demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. The need to scale production is an industry imperative and Virgin Atlantic is committed to radical collaboration across the energy chain to support commercialisation ahead of 2030.
4. For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic.
5. B-ROLL & PHOTOS AVAILABLE HERE: https://mediaselect.pa.media/virgin_saf_flight

 

DEVELOPING STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS AFRICA SINCE 2012

 

New P&WCSMART solution provides a set-cost option to extend the service life of Bell 212 and Bell 412 helicopters

MADRID, Nov. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney Canada announced today a new, cost-effective P&WCSMART military overhaul program developed specifically for military customers flying Bell 212 and Bell 412 helicopters with PT6T-3 or PT6T-6 Twinpac™ engines. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business.

“Our P&WCSMART portfolio was developed to assist customers flying mature engines, in many cases requiring an overhaul,” said Irene Makris, vice president of Customer Service at Pratt & Whitney Canada. “This new P&WCSMART military program for PT6T-3/6 engines on military fleets takes into consideration the mission and environment of military customers by offering overhaul costs that are predictable, allowing our customers to accurately budget for their engine maintenance costs.”

Pratt & Whitney Canada’s portfolio of P&WCSMART MRO solutions deliver original equipment manufacturer (OEM) value and genuine P&WC parts and services. The P&WCSMART program work is conducted through the company’s Global Service Network and comes with an OEM-level warrantee on parts and labor.

Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have achieved more than one billion hours of flight across the entire fleet since the introduction of the PT6 in 1963. The PT6T engine family has contributed more than 48 million hours towards the fleet total. Read more about Pratt & Whitney’s history of innovation here.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. To learn more, visit www.prattwhitney.com.

About RTX RTX is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact corporatepr@rtx.com.

To get more information about Pratt & Whitney NewsRoom visit: https://app.prattwhitney.com/2023-11-28-RTXs-Pratt-Whitney-Canada-announces-cost-effective-PT6T-3-6-Twinpac-TM-engine-overhaul-program-designed-especially-for-military-customers

 

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) today announces it welcomes Emirates’ order for 15 Trent XWB-84 powered A350-900s. This takes its total order for the Trent XWB family to 130 engines, which will start to deliver in 2025.

 

Today’s order confirms the airline’s confidence in this winning aircraft/engine combination, which has set an industry benchmark for efficiency and reliability.

 

This order will add to Emirates’ existing Rolls-Royce fleet of 132 Trent 900s.

 

Rob Watson, President, Rolls-Royce – Civil Aerospace, said:

“Today’s announcement proves once again that our customers have confidence in the power of the Trent XWB to support their expanding operations.

“With proven reliability and versatility, the Trent XWB – the world’s most efficient large aero-engine in service – is the ideal platform to support Emirates as it continues to expand its network.

“Rolls-Royce’s relationship with Emirates began in 1996 with selection of Trent power and we look forward to continuing this valuable partnership far into the future.”

 

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group, added:

“The A350-900s will add to our fleet mix and we are pleased to announce additional orders for this aircraft type. We plan to deploy our A350s to serve a range of new markets including long-haul missions of up to 15 hours flying time from Dubai.

“We will work closely with Airbus and Rolls-Royce to ensure our aircraft deliver the best possible operating efficiency and flying experience for our customers.”

“Emirates’ orders this week are all carefully planned to support our future growth and the Dubai economic vision set out by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Emirates experience is often the first visitor experience of Dubai – and we want it to be the best.”

 

More than 56 customers have chosen to order and/or operate the Trent XWB, which is the world’s most efficient large aero-engine in service.

 

As versatile as it is reliable, the Trent XWB has already shown it is equally efficient at powering short-haul or long-haul flights, which makes it the ideal solution for passenger and freighter operators with a varied network.

 

With a 15 per cent fuel consumption advantage over the first generation of Trent engine, the Trent XWB goes further on less fuel, and offers leading performance and noise levels. It is also certified to operate on a 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend today and has been proven to be compatible with 100% SAF for the future.

 

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens.
2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. We are committed to making our products compatible with net zero carbon emissions to meet customer demand for more sustainable solutions.
3. The annual underlying revenue was £12.69 billion in 2022, and the underlying operating profit was £652m.
4. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)

 

 

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) today announces it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a comprehensive TotalCare service agreement with Ethiopian Airlines for 22 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines. The Trent XWB-84 exclusively powers the Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

 

TotalCare is designed to provide operational certainty for customers by transferring time on wing and maintenance cost risk back to Rolls-Royce. This industry-leading premium service is supported by data delivered through the Rolls-Royce advanced engine health monitoring system, which helps provide customers with increased operational availability, reliability and efficiency.

 

Ethiopian Airlines became Africa’s first A350 operator in 2016, and has been a customer of Rolls-Royce for many years. This order will complement the airline’s existing fleet of 40 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines.

Rolls-Royce also powers the airline’s fleet of 10 Boeing 787s with their Trent 1000 engine.

 

Rolls-Royce congratulates Ethiopian Airlines on their continued route development and looks forward to the inaugural flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to London Gatwick, UK, later this month using their Trent XWB-powered A350 aircraft.

Rob Watson, President – Civil Aerospace Rolls-Royce plc, said:

 

“Today’s announcement marks an exciting day for Ethiopian Airlines and Rolls-Royce. It is proof that the Trent XWB-84 continues to perform and deliver for our customers. It is the perfect engine platform to support Ethiopian Airlines’ growth ambitions as a leading airline in Africa.

 

“We have enjoyed a relationship with Ethiopian Airlines for many years and we would like to thank them for yet again putting their trust in the Trent XWB and Rolls-Royce. We look forward to supporting them with their global route development.”

 

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, said:

“We are excited to place this commitment for 11 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 powered Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which will be supported by a comprehensive Rolls-Royce TotalCare services agreement. We are keen to expand our fleet size, acquiring the latest technology aircraft to offer a convenient and memorable onboard experience to our esteemed passengers.”

 

As versatile as it is reliable, the Trent XWB has already shown it is equally efficient at powering short-haul or long-haul flights, which makes it the ideal solution for passenger and freighter operators with a varied network. As the world’s most efficient large aero engine in service, the Trent XWB will also help fast track Ethiopian Airlines’ sustainability journey.

 

With a 15 per cent fuel consumption advantage over the first generation of Trent engine, the Trent XWB goes further on less fuel, and offers leading performance and noise levels. It is also certified to operate on a 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend today and has been proven to be compatible with 100% SAF for the future.

 

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens.
2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. We are committed to making our products compatible with net zero carbon emissions to meet customer demand for more sustainable solutions.
3. The annual underlying revenue was £12.69 billion in 2022, and the underlying operating profit was £652m.
4. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)