Rolls-Royce has secured an order from Somon Air to supply four Trent 1000 XE engines to power the airline’s two new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, further strengthening market confidence in the latest generation of the Trent engine family.
The agreement follows another Trent 1000 XE order announced earlier this year from LATAM Airlines, reflecting growing demand for the upgraded engine as airlines seek greater reliability, improved fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements.
The Trent 1000 XE incorporates several enhancements developed through Rolls-Royce’s certified two-phase durability improvement programme. Among the most significant upgrades is a redesigned high-pressure turbine (HPT) blade, which increases cooling airflow by 40% and delivers up to three times longer time-on-wing compared to the previous Trent 1000 standard.
The improved durability, combined with higher dispatch reliability and expanded aftermarket support, is helping operators achieve greater fleet availability while reducing unscheduled maintenance events. Rolls-Royce said the enhanced engine performance is already enabling some customers to operate Aircraft on Ground (AOG)-free fleets, significantly improving operational efficiency.
Ewen McDonald, CCO at Rolls-Royce, welcomed Somon Air as a new customer for the Trent 1000 XE programme. “We are delighted to welcome Somon Air to the Rolls-Royce family with the Trent 1000 XE and look forward to building a long-term partnership. The latest enhancements deliver up to three times longer time-on-wing, lower maintenance requirements and greater confidence in fleet planning, reflecting the continued transformation of our Trent engine programme,” McDonald said.
Abdulkosim Valiev, CEO of Somon Air, said the combination of the Boeing 787 and Trent 1000 XE engines will support the airline’s future network expansion. “The Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Trent 1000 XE provide the ideal combination for our growing widebody fleet. Together with Rolls-Royce’s TotalCare service programme, the agreement offers greater transparency, predictable maintenance planning and improved fleet stability, giving us confidence as we continue expanding our network,” Valiev said.
The durability improvements incorporated into the Trent 1000 XE are based on proven in-service experience from the Trent 7000, where the upgraded high-pressure turbine technology has already accumulated more than two million flight hours.
Alongside the engine enhancements, Rolls-Royce has continued to strengthen its global MRO network by expanding annual shop visit capacity and reducing engine turnaround times. The company has established dedicated Trent 1000 XE maintenance facilities in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Germany, while also significantly increasing its global spare engine pool to minimise operational disruptions and improve fleet availability for airline customers.
The latest developments form part of Rolls-Royce’s broader £1 billion investment in the Trent engine family, covering product enhancements, aftermarket infrastructure and long-term lifecycle support. The investment underscores the growing importance of MRO capability as airlines increasingly prioritise engine reliability, faster shop turnaround times and predictable maintenance costs in an environment of rising global demand for widebody aircraft.
