Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines will power three new Airbus A330 twinjets to be operated by Middle East Airlines (MEA), based in Beirut. MEA is leasing the aircraft from International Lease Finance Corporation of the United States with deliveries between April and June 2003.
MEA's A330s will be powered by 72,000lb thrust Trent 772 engines, the first of the Trent series to enter service in 1995. The airliners, which will carry 250 passengers in MEA's configuration, will be used on international routes to Europe and Africa as well as regional destinations in the Middle East.
"The Trent 700 is the most popular engine choice for A330 customers, with MEA becoming the 23rd operator, one of a growing number in the Middle East," Mike Terrett, president of Rolls-Royce’s Civil Aerospace division, said.
Existing links with between MEA and Rolls-Royce have been established through the V2500 engines installed on its fleet of Airbus A320 regional jets, which began operations in 1997. The V2500 is produced by International Aero Engines, the four-nation consortium in which Rolls-Royce partners with Pratt & Whitney of the USA, Germany's MTU and the Japanese Aero Engines Corporation.
Rolls-Royce is an international company providing power for land, sea and air transport. It employs some 40,000 people in more than 30 countries, including over 25,000 in the UK, 5,000 in the rest of the Europe and over 8,000 in North America.
Rolls-Royce engines power commercial aircraft in every segment of the market. It has customers using both fixed and rotary wing aircraft in over 150 countries, including more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility operators and 160 armed forces. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
