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Airlines shift from Rolls-Royce engines amid performance concerns

Airlines shift from Rolls-Royce engines amid performance concerns
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Airbus A380 | Airbus

Airlines have been adjusting their engine choices for the Boeing 787, with several opting to switch from Rolls-Royce's Trent 1000 engines to those offered by GE Aerospace. British Airways has notably been affected, having canceled long-haul routes due to capacity management issues linked to supply shortages of Rolls-Royce engines.

GE Aerospace's GEnx engine has been gaining traction among airlines. The company claims its engine provides a 1.4% better specific fuel consumption over "the competition for a 3,000 nautical mile mission." Additionally, the GEnx offers three times higher time on the wing and a 99.98% dispatch rate.

Rolls-Royce highlights that its Trent 1000 is 20% more fuel-efficient than the older Boeing 767 model it replaced and maintains a dispatch reliability of 99.9%. Despite these attributes, the Trent 1000 faced significant reliability challenges in recent years, starting in 2016 when All Nippon Airways discovered turbine blade corrosion and cracking issues. This led to grounding aircraft by carriers such as Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic.

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Rolls-Royce reported progress in resolving these problems in its annual reports but acknowledged ongoing challenges. "We continue to make solid progress with longer-term solutions," stated the company's report.

As airlines consider their options amidst these developments, data shows that between December 31, 2016, and October 31, 2024, Boeing received significantly more orders for aircraft powered by GEnx engines compared to those equipped with Trent 1000s.

British Airways' parent company International Airlines Group selected the GEnx for six of its new Boeing Dreamliners during the Farnborough International Airshow in July. According to GE Aerospace: "The GEnx-1B powers two out of every three 787 aircraft in service."

Other airlines are also making similar shifts. LATAM Airlines announced an order for five new Boeing Dreamliners equipped with GEnx engines last year and recently ordered ten additional aircraft which are expected to feature this powerplant.

While many current operators still rely heavily on Trent-powered Dreamliners—Ethiopian Airlines being one exception with more GEnx-powered planes—the trend indicates growing preference towards General Electric's offering within certain sectors across various regions worldwide.

Organizations Included in this History
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