Quantcast

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

Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Boeing and Airbus ground green plane projects
Proposals for commercial planes to operate with one pilot shelved after critical EU report
Air Travel Fatalities Up 300% in 2024, According to Shocking Global Report
Aviation sector faces steeper losses in FY26; passenger growth slows amid headwinds: ICRA - The Times of India
Boeing Halts Strike Talks Amid $36 Billion Deal & Union Dispute
FAA’s Broader Runway Safety Push Builds on EMAS Legacy
Ryanair CEO says aviation sustainability targets are 'dying a death'
US FAA funds system to prevent accidents involving runaway airplanes
Exclusive: Korean Air makes airline's biggest-ever Boeing jet order amid Trump-Lee summit
Boeing Stock Jumps on Massive Korean Air Order
FAA EMAS: Proven Safety Wins Since 1996
Air Canada flight attendants try to build on US gains on unpaid work
Cathay Pacific warns of declining fares and cargo uncertainty, shares fall
Clear intentions, cloudy path: aviation's ongoing ESG challenge
Turkish Airlines is preparing binding offer for Spain's Air Europa, executive says
Air Canada flight attendants approve strike mandate
US criticizes use of AI to personalize airline ticket prices, would investigate
Ethiopian Airlines' annual revenue rises as it draws more passengers, adds routes
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
JetBlue, United partnership gets go-ahead from U.S. Transportation Department
United-JetBlue partnership gets US DOT approval
The aviation industry just got exactly what it wanted from Trump's EU deal
Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Heathrow Chief Defends £50–60 billion Third Runway Amid Rising Costs Debate
New UK airline with cheap US fares is ‘parked’ after just TWO flights – with people fearing it’s been scrapped for good
US carriers shamed in surprising new list of the world’s ‘cleanest’ airlines
Air Force Pilot Wasn't Alerted to Collision Course with Passenger Jet Before Scary Near Miss, Says Official
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
Rolls-Royce vs GE: Key differences in commercial aircraft engine manufacturing
Policy
Webp messenger creation 28941593
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.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

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.

___

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced its Employees of the Month at its LAV facility.

Oct 28, 2025

Flying Food Group's San Francisco facility recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with its employees.

Oct 28, 2025

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of a new route connecting Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa.

Oct 27, 2025

United Airlines has unveiled its Summer 2026 schedule, which includes new flights from Newark to Bari, Split, Santiago de Compostela, and Glasgow, as well as from Newark to Seoul and Washington, D.C., to Reykjavik.

Oct 27, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced a limited-time 20% discount on fares between Addis Ababa and Porto.

Oct 27, 2025

Avianca has announced that passengers are encouraged to register for the Biomig biometric migration system to avoid lines and delays at participating airports in Colombia.

Oct 27, 2025