News from the Rolls Royce website - looks like the A330s are still on the way, but will they end up in HK or in China with HNA?
HNA Group signs contract for Rolls-Royce Trent 700 for Hong Kong Airlines’ A330 fleet
Friday, 27 February 2009
HNA Group and Rolls-Royce plc have today signed a contract for Trent 700EP engines to power Hong Kong Airlines’ new fleet of 20 Airbus A330s. The value of the contract, including a long-term TotalCare® services agreement, is approximately US$1.2 billion at list prices. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining the contract was announced in January 2008.
HNA Group is a major shareholder in Hong Kong Airlines, which will become a new Rolls-Royce customer. The Group already operates Trent 700 powered A330-200 and Trent 500 powered A340-600 aircraft. The Trent 700 engines selected for Hong Kong Airlines are the latest Trent 700EP (Enhanced Performance) version, which feature improved fuel and lower emission levels. The airline will take delivery of its first A330 aircraft in 2010.
Liu Junchun, Executive Vice President of HNA Group, said: "Having experienced an excellent operational record with the Trent 700s currently in service with Hainan Airlines, the engine is clearly the best solution for Hong Kong Airlines' A330 fleet. Its outstanding reliability and operational flexibility mean it does not limit the routes that our aircraft can operate, giving us and our passengers maximum choice."
Steve Miller, Vice President of Civil Aerospace - China, at Rolls-Royce, added: "HNA Group is a major and fast growing airline group in China and this contract demonstrates the Group’s continuing confidence in the value and reliability of our products and the strength of our long term relationship. This is the launch of the Trent 700EP in China. The Trent 700EP will deliver HNA Group significant fuel savings."
The Trent 700 has consistently been demonstrated as the engine of choice for airlines operating the A330. The Trent 700 has secured over 70 per cent of the A330 market over the last three years. In China the Trent 700 has been selected thirteen times by nine customers to power a total of 155 A330s that are either in service or on order. The engine delivers outstanding levels of performance and offers the highest available thrust on the A330, maximising revenue generating capability. Latest technologies also give the engine class-leading fuel burn that translates into lower emissions.