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Derby Engine Makers Rolls-Royce Win Big Deal
Aero engine giant Rolls-Royce has won a £6.1 billion deal with Dubai-based airline Emirates to provide Trent engines produced at sites including Derby and Hucknall in Nottinghamshire.
The order is the largest in the long history of Rolls-Royce.
In a huge boost to UK industry, Rolls-Royce will provide Trent engines which will power 50 Airbus A380 superjumbos that will enter service from 2016.
Rolls-Royce chief executive John Rishton said: ''We are delighted that Emirates has again placed its trust in our technology, with the biggest order in our history.''
Announcing the deal in London, Emirates president Sir Tim Clark said: ''Today's announcement is significant not only because it cements the partnership between Emirates and Rolls-Royce, but also because of the significant economic impact that this will have on aviation manufacturing in the UK and Europe.''
The order will secure jobs across Rolls-Royce's supply chain which stretches from Bristol in south-west England to Scotland.
Emirates added that the deal further supported trade ties between the UK and the United Arab Emirates.
The 9.2 billion dollar figure includes a long-term after-care package.
The engine involved is the Trent 900. Sites in the UK which are involved in Trent 900 production include Derby, Bristol, Sunderland, Hucknall in Nottinghamshire, Ansty in Warwickshire, Inchinnan in Scotland and Barnoldswick in Lancashire.
The Trent 900 powered the first A380 to go into commercial service in 2007 with Singapore Airlines, and Rolls has had a long association with Emirates which has 60 superjumbos in its fleet and 80 on order.
Emirates operates 16 daily flights from the UK with nine of these using A380s whose wings are made in the UK.
