Air India places largest ever LEAP engine and Rolls Royce Trent XWB-97 engine order

MUMBAI: Tata group-owned Air India on Tuesday announced a CFM order for more than 800 LEAP engines, the largest LEAP order ever, to power its entire narrowbody purchase of 210 Airbus A320/A321neo aircraft and 190 Boeing 737 MAX-family aircraft. For its A350-1000 aircraft, it placed an order for 68 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the biggest ever order for this engine type.


Air India has also ordered 12 Trent XWB-84 engines, the sole engine option for the Airbus A350-900, said Rolls-Royce. "This is the first time that an Indian airline has ordered the Trent XWB and the deal will make Air India the largest operator of the Trent XWB-97 in the world," it added.

For the 20 B787 and 10 B777 aircraft, Air India signed a firm order for 40 GEnx-1B and 20 GE9X engines, plus a multi-year engine services agreement, said GE Aerospace. The LEAP order announcement too includes a multi-year CFM services agreement. CFM is a 50/50 joint business between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines. "GE Aerospace has powered Air India since 1982, when the airline took delivery of its first CF6-powered Airbus A300. The airline currently operates a fleet which includes GE90-powered Boeing 777s and GEnx-powered Boeing 787s," said GE Aerospace.

Russell Stokes, President and CEO, Commercial Engines and Services for GE Aerospace said: "Over the last decade, we have introduced a new portfolio of commercial engines that are significantly more fuel efficient, quieter, and emit less CO2. This record order reflects our strong product renewal and our customer’s continued confidence in our engines.”

Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce plc, said: “Today’s announcement marks an exciting and truly remarkable occasion for Tata Group and Air India; the size and magnitude of this order reflects the level of their ambition for the future. Air India is the first Indian airline to order the Trent XWB and the size of the commitment, including options, will make them the biggest operator of the Trent XWB-97 in the world. With a dynamic and growing aviation industry, India is a strategically important market for us and we look forward to working with Air India as they connect their passengers across global communities and cultures.”