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Rolls-Royce vs GE: Key differences in commercial aircraft engine manufacturing

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Rolls-Royce vs GE: Key differences in commercial aircraft engine manufacturing
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Tufan Erginbilgic Rolls-Royce's Chief Executive | Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce and GE Aerospace are the only companies manufacturing engines for modern widebody commercial aircraft. Pratt & Whitney, which once made engines for widebodies, has shifted its focus to narrowbody engines. Meanwhile, France's Safran collaborates with GE Aerospace to produce CFM International LEAP narrowbody engines.

The Rolls-Royce Trent X exclusively powers the Airbus A350, while the GE-9X is designated for the Boeing 777X. Rolls-Royce also provides engines for the Airbus A330neo and offers an option for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with its Trent 1000 engine. On the other hand, GE engines power most Boeing widebodies, including the upcoming Boeing 777X and current Boeing 787 models.

In recent years, Rolls-Royce faced challenges with its Trent 1000 engine due to a corrosion-related issue discovered in 2016 that led to significant financial costs and operational disruptions. Since then, airlines have increasingly favored GE's GEnx-1B engine over Rolls-Royce's option for new orders of the Boeing 787.

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Currently, Rolls-Royce holds about 12% of the overall commercial passenger jet engine market share, while GE leads with a 55% share when including co-produced engines with Safran. Despite this disparity in market share, both companies maintain a strong presence in widebody aircraft orders.

Rolls-Royce has signaled potential interest in re-entering the narrowbody market but currently does not produce such engines. Conversely, GE dominates this sector through a joint venture with Safran under CFM International.

Beyond aviation, both companies' technologies extend into naval applications. The General Electric CF6 powers various naval ships as well as some military transport aircraft. Similarly, Rolls-Royce adapted its Trent series for use in naval vessels.

Looking ahead, both companies are developing hybrid electric technologies for smaller aircraft markets. In collaboration with NASA, GE is working on a hybrid electric demonstrator engine designed to supplement power during different phases of operation. Rolls-Royce is also exploring all-electric and hybrid-electric systems aimed at advanced air mobility markets.

In summary, while GE Aerospace manufactures both narrow and widebody aircraft engines, Rolls-Royce focuses solely on widebody models. This division positions them as dominant players within their respective segments amid ongoing technological advancements and industry shifts.

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