European Startup Airlines Pen Rolls-Royce Engine MRO Deals

Credit: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce has secured new TotalCare services agreements with two European startup airlines.

It signed an agreement on July 18 with British low-cost carrier flypop, which plans to begin passenger operations to South Asia this year. The TotalCare agreement covers the Trent 700 engines powering flypop’s four Airbus A330ceos.

“Our A330s are the first widebodies in our fleet and provide a significant expansion in the levels of service we can provider our passengers,” says Hitesh Patel, chief operating officer at flypop. He adds that the agreement “will maximize aircraft availability and efficiency.”

Rolls-Royce also signed an agreement on July 19 with Norse Atlantic Airways, a new Norwegian low-cost carrier that began operations in June. The agreement covers the Trent 1000 engines powering its fleet of 15 Boeing 787s.

“The agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide their TotalCare maintenance solution will provide Norse Atlantic Airways with predictability in regards to both maintenance services and costs. This important agreement will contribute to the reliability of our fleet and the sustainability of our business,” says Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways.

According to Rolls-Royce, its TotalCare program is designed to transfer the management of engine maintenance and its associated risks and costs from the airline to the OEM. The program covers off-wing repair and overhaul, predictive maintenance planning, and work scope creation and management. The OEM says approximately 90% of airlines opt for TotalCare services when purchasing Trent engines.

Lindsay Bjerregaard

Lindsay Bjerregaard is managing editor for Aviation Week’s MRO portfolio. Her coverage focuses on MRO technology, workforce, and product and service news for AviationWeek.com, Aviation Week Marketplace and Inside MRO.