Aircraft
Rolls To Power Emirates’ Latest Batch of A380s
Airline switches allegiances from Pratt, GE partnership
A GP7200-powered Emirates A380 taxis during preparations for the 2013 Dubai Air Show. (Photo: Airbus)
A GP7200-powered Emirates A380 taxis during preparations for the 2013 Dubai Air Show. (Photo: Airbus)

Emirates Airline has switched allegiances from Engine Alliance-powered A380s with a $9.2 billion order Friday for 200 Rolls-Royce Trent 900s and spares to power the carrier’s next batch of 50 superjumbos. Emirates placed the airframe order at the Dubai Air Show in 2013, but deferred choosing their engines while it negotiated with Airbus over a possible powerplant upgrade that would form the basis for a so-called A380neo. Emirates CEO Tim Clark said at a press conference in London that some of the order for the latest batch of 50 airplanes could stand subject to conversion to neos, but that possibility remains subject to deliberations with Airbus. Emirates has placed orders for 90 A380s powered by GP7200s, built under a partnership between Pratt & Whitney and GE. It has so far taken delivery of 60.