ROLLS-ROYCE announced yesterday (20 October) that it had signed a long- term aftermarket support agreement with Virgin Atlantic Airways covering the Trent 500 engines for the airline's new fleet of long-range Airbus A340-600 aircraft. The Total Care contract is valued at $325m and provides powerplant cover for the fleet of 10 aircraft through to 2016. Total Care allows airlines to select from a menu of support services and to customize their requirements. The agreement is translated into a fixed dollar rate per flying hour, giving operators complete visibility of maintenance costs and removing the need for large capital investment in overhaul facilities. Virgin Atlantic was launch customer for the four-engined A340-600 for which the Trent 500 is the sole powerplant offered. It currently uses the aircraft on the London ” Newark and JFK routes and plans expansion first to Hong Kong and Tokyo this year, and subsequently to Johannesburg from 2003.
http://www.rolls-royce.com
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com