Finnair rolls with Trent engine

Finnair has selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 1700 engine to power its fleet of Airbus A350-900s in a deal worth $470 million at list prices. The contract makes it the first airline to buy the new model in the Trent series. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2012.

Finnair, a new large engines customer for Rolls-Royce, becomes the 53rd airline or leasing company to choose versions of the Trent engine series. The A350s will replace Finnair’s current long-haul fleet of MD-11s.

The Helsinki-based airline intends to use its Trent-powered A350s to support its increase in long-haul flights, particularly to the Far East.

Jukka Hienonen, Chief Executive Officer at Finnair, said that the Trent 1700 offers the company the best cost and performance match to its requirements.