Engines
Rolls-Royce Issues Sanguine Trent 1000 Outlook
The UK engine maker sees operational and financial improvements in the second half of 2019 continuing in 2020.
Rolls-Royce chief executive Warren East (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
Rolls-Royce chief executive Warren East (Photo: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce on Friday reported “significant” progress on fixes to the troubled Trent 1000 turbofan along with a 25-percent increase in 2019 underlying operational profit, led by a £195 million organic improvement within the Civil Aerospace division. Speaking during the company’s 2019 full-year earnings call, Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East said last year’s £578 million cash cost associated with Trent 1000 work would mark a peak in spending on the related redesigns, certifications, and customer support functions such as engine replacements. The company did not change the outlook it delivered during its November earnings presentation for the third quarter, meaning it continues to expect AOGs to reach a “single-digit position” by the middle of this year, down from the current level of about 35.