Gulf Air finalized an agreement to purchase engines from Rolls Royce worth $1.5 billion (Dh 5.5 billion). The Trent 700 enhanced performance (EP) engines will power twenty Airbus A330 aircraft and deliveries will begin in 2012.  TotalCare long-term service is included in the agreement and a current long-term service agreement for Trent 700’s powering A330s already in service has been renewed.  Gulf Air Chairman Talal Al Zain and Rolls Royce Chief Executive Sir John Rose signed the contract at the Paris Air show.

More than 70% of the A330 market has been secured by Rolls Royce in the last three years.  Eight of the nine Middle East A330 operators chose Trent 700 engines to power their fleet.  Chief Executive Officer for Gulf Air said “As Gulf Air progresses with its ambitious re-fleeting and product enhancement strategy, we need an engine to power our future A330s.  After exploring a number of options, we have selected the Trent 700 as the one best suited to meet our future needs.”