Dubai, UAE – Rolls-Royce secured a series of significant agreements at the 2025 Dubai Air Show, reinforcing its position in the Middle East aviation market. The announcements, highlighted by major orders from both new and existing customers, centre on the Trent engine family and new aftermarket service programs, underscoring a strategy built on long-term partnerships and product evolution.
The cornerstone of the show for Rolls-Royce was the announcement from Air Europa for 80 Trent XWB-84 engines to power 40 new Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This order deepens an existing relationship and represents a major endorsement of the engine platform. “The continued popularity of the Airbus A350-900 powered by the Trent XWB-84 is important to us,” said Ewen McDonald, Chief Customer Officer for Civil Aerospace.
In the leasing sector, AviLease became a launch customer for the newly introduced LessorCare+ service. This comprehensive asset management program is designed to provide lessors with enhanced data and insights into engine performance and maintenance. Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace, noted the move reflects “demand among lessors for even greater insights into their asset holdings.”
A major aftermarket milestone was reached with Emirates, which will join the Rolls-Royce global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) network in 2027 for its Trent 900 engines. This strategic collaboration will expand network capacity and solidify the service support ecosystem for one of the world’s largest airlines.
Further demonstrating regional confidence, Ethiopian Airlines ordered 12 Trent XWB-84 engines for six A350-900s. The most substantial engine order came from Etihad Airways, encompassing a mix of 30 Trent 7000s for A330neos and 34 Trent XWB-97s for A350-1000s and new A350F freighters. Rob Watson linked these orders directly to Rolls-Royce’s ongoing investment: “We are investing in our engines and services to match that ambition… our investment will double time on wing in Middle East environments from 2028.” Silk Way West Airlines also selected the Trent XWB-97 to power two new A350F freighters.
Supporting these customer announcements, Rolls-Royce reiterated its £1 billion investment program across its modern Trent engines to improve durability by an average of 80%. Enhancements for the Trent 7000 have already tripled time-on-wing in some cases, with further gains expected. For the Trent XWB-97, a third phase of upgrades entering service in 2028 is projected to double time-on-wing in demanding environments like the Middle East.
The collective announcements at the air show illustrate a dual focus for Rolls-Royce: securing new platform orders with advanced engine technology and expanding its service footprint to support customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their assets.
