China Airlines Signs Contract With Rolls-Royce
January 22, 2008
Rolls-Royce and Taiwan’s China Airlines have signed a contract for Trent XWB engines to power a fleet of 14 firm and six option Airbus A350 XWB twinjets.
The potential value of the business, which includes a long-term TotalCare services agreement, is $1.3 billion at engine list prices. Deliveries begin in 2015. Selection of the engines was announced in December 2007 following the signing of a letter of intent between the airline and Airbus.
Final engine configuration and selection of technologies for the Trent XWB are scheduled to be completed by mid-2008 leading to the start of ground-testing in 2010. A flying test bed program will begin in 2011, followed by airworthiness certification and first flight on the A350 XWB in 2012.