Dubai 2011: Rolls-Royce wins $500m Saudi deal

Engines OEM Rolls-Royce has won an order from Saudi Arabian Airlines, worth up to US$500 million, to provide engines and after-sales 'total care' support for a previously announced order for four Airbus A330 aircraft, plus four options.

These aircraft, which are due to enter service from 2013, will be in addition to Saudi Arabian Airlines’ existing fleet of eight Trent 700-powered Airbus A330s and will bring the total of Trent 700-powered A330s in the fleet to 16.

Khaled Al-Molhem, Saudi Arabian Airlines director general said: “Our first Trent 700-powered A330 went into service in May last year and, since then, it has performed flawlessly. We have confidence that Rolls-Royce technology and support services are the right choice for our continued growth.”

Phil Harris, Rolls-Royce’s senior VP, civil aerospace, responded: “The Trent 700 is a market leader and in the Middle East it is the engine of choice for eight out of the 11 operators of the Airbus A330, powering 75% of the aircraft in service. We are proud that our valued customer, Saudi Arabian Airlines, has again put its trust in our world-leading technology and aftermarket support.”

The Trent 700, the only engine designed specifically for the A330 aircraft, has won more than three-quarters of orders in the last three years and more than 1,400 are now in service or on order. All the engines in service in the Middle East are covered by R-R’s long-term service support.