Virgin Atlantic Selects Rolls-Royce Engines to Power Its 787 Fleet in a Deal Wo...( - Trent 1000 engine...)

- Trent 1000 engines have been selected - New environmental partnership with Rolls Royce to focus on lower fuel

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SOUTH NORWALK, Conn., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Atlantic, one of the world's leading long-haul airlines, today announced it has selected Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines to power its Boeing 787-9 fleet of aircraft.

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The order, worth $2.6b, includes 15 sets of installed engines and four spare engines for Virgin Atlantic's confirmed aircraft order, and engines for the options and purchase rights on a further 28 aircraft. The agreement also includes a long-term maintenance agreement to ensure the engines remain at peak performance through their life. Virgin Atlantic is also forming a new environmental partnership with Rolls-Royce, in which both companies will work together to continually lower fuel burn and emissions.

The 75,000lb thrust Trent 1000 engine will power the airline's 787 order -- which includes 15 firm 787s along with a further 8 aircraft options and 20 purchase rights. Deliveries of the airline's 787s are due from 2011 onwards.

Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic, commented:

"Virgin Atlantic has chosen the cleanest possible engines for its more

fuel-efficient future with the 787 Dreamliner. Rolls-Royce engines will

help us cut emissions per flight by nearly 30 percent as we pursue our

goal to become the most sustainable airline in the world. Our new

environmental partnership will also bring major benefits to the

aviation industry, as we work together to deliver the most efficient

engines in the sky, and continuously improve the fuel burn of our fleet

of aircraft."

James M. Guyette, President & CEO,
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