Mon, Mar 03, 2008
Trent 1000 Deal Also Includes Joint Environmental Program
On Monday, Rolls-Royce announced a $2.6 billion order for its
Trent 1000 engines and associated services from Virgin Atlantic.
The company also revealed it is forming an environmental
partnership with the airline to cut carbon emissions.
The Trent 1000 is the launch engine for all versions of the
Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which enters service in 2009. The recent
order, which includes a full-life TotalCare services agreement, is
for Trent 1000s to power up to 43 Boeing 787s and consists of 15
firm aircraft plus eight options and a further 20 purchase rights.
Virgin Atlantic is slated to take delivery of its first
Trent-powered 787 in 2011.
Rolls-Royce emphasizes the
Trent-powered Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will burn almost 30 percent
less fuel than previous generation airliners, resulting in an
equivalent reduction in carbon emissions per passenger. The
environmental initiative between Rolls-Royce and Virgin Atlantic
aims to identify further opportunities to reduce aircraft fuel burn
through enhanced engine performance. Actions will be managed within
the framework of the TotalCare agreement, under which Rolls-Royce
assumes full responsibility for monitoring and maintaining the
Trent 1000 fleet.
"Virgin Atlantic has chosen the cleanest possible engines for
its more fuel-efficient future with the 787 Dreamliner," said Sir
Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic. "Rolls-Royce engines
will help us cut emissions per flight by nearly 30 per cent and
become the most sustainable airline in the world. Our new
environmental partnership will also bring major benefits to the
aviation industry, enabling us to work together on researching and
developing the most efficient engines in the sky, and continuously
improving the fuel burn of our fleet of aircraft."
"This is a vote of confidence in the Trent family by Virgin
Atlantic," added James M. Guyette, President & CEO, Rolls-Royce
North America. "We share a common agenda to address environmental
issues, and the new environmental partnership will help speed up
research and development into reducing carbon emissions."
The deal follows in the footsteps of the 787 purchase agreement
signed between the airline and Boeing last April -- which, in
addition to a pledge to deliver a biofuel for jets, also called for the CEOs of both parties
to lose weight. There's no word from Rolls-Royce
executives on whether their contract carried similar
stipulations... but we'd recommend they check the fine print, just
to be sure.
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