Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
Rolls-Royce Secures Engine Order for Delta Air Lines Widebody Fleet
Rolls-Royce signs deal with Delta Air Lines for 62 engines powering Airbus A350-900 and A330-900neo aircraft, deliveries from 2029.
Rolls-Royce has officially announced a significant new agreement with Delta Air Lines for 62 widebody engines to power the carrier’s expanding fleet of Airbus aircraft. Announced on January 28, 2026, the deal solidifies the British manufacturer’s position within Delta’s long-haul strategy, introducing the upgraded Trent XWB-84 Enhanced Performance (EP) engine to the airline’s operations.
According to the company’s statement, the order supports Delta’s acquisition of 15 Airbus A350-900s and 16 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. Deliveries for these new airframes are scheduled to begin in 2029. The agreement also includes a long-term TotalCare® service contract, Rolls-Royce’s flagship “power-by-the-hour” maintenance package designed to ensure predictable operational costs and fleet availability.
The order comprises two distinct engine types tailored to Delta’s mixed Airbus fleet. Rolls-Royce confirmed the specific breakdown of the 62 engines as follows:
Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, highlighted the significance of the partnership in the official release:
“Rolls-Royce is proud to have Delta Air Lines as our largest partner in the Americas… This reorder underpins our combined commitment to reliability, durability, and customer success.”
A focal point of this announcement is Delta’s selection of the Trent XWB-84 Enhanced Performance (EP) variant for its new A350 fleet. According to technical specifications released by Rolls-Royce, the EP variant represents an evolution of the standard Trent XWB-84, which is already the exclusive powerplant for the Airbus A350 family.
The manufacturer states that the EP variant delivers a 1% reduction in fuel consumption compared to the original model. While a single percentage point may appear nominal, across a Commercial-Aircraft fleet’s operational lifespan, this translates to substantial financial savings and a measurable reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Rolls-Royce detailed several engineering improvements that contribute to this efficiency:
The EP variant received EASA certification in April 2025, with FAA certification expected to follow shortly to align with the 2029 delivery timeline.
This order is a critical element of Delta’s broader fleet modernization program. By retiring older, less efficient aircraft such as the Boeing 767-300ER, Delta is transitioning to next-generation widebodies that offer superior operating economics.
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, commented on the strategic value of the new aircraft in the press statement: “As we grow our international footprint and prepare our fleet to serve expanded long-haul markets, these aircraft will enhance our capabilities and elevate our premium offerings.”
The A350-900s are expected to serve ultra-long-haul premium routes, such as those connecting the U.S. to the Asia-Pacific region, while the A330neos will likely be deployed on high-demand transatlantic and transpacific corridors.
From our perspective, this order represents a vital “defensive win” for Rolls-Royce. While Delta recently diversified its fleet with an order for Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners (powered by GE Aerospace), Rolls-Royce has successfully defended its territory on the Airbus side of the ledger.
Because the A350 and A330neo platforms are exclusively powered by Rolls-Royce, any Airbus widebody order automatically benefits the Derby-based manufacturer. However, the inclusion of the TotalCare service agreement is the true financial anchor, locking in long-term aftermarket revenue. Furthermore, the introduction of the “EP” variant demonstrates Rolls-Royce’s ability to respond to airline demands for continuous incremental efficiency improvements, a necessary evolution to compete with rival engine technologies.
Rolls-Royce Secures Major Engine Order for Delta Air Lines’ Widebody Expansion
Breakdown of the Deal
Technical Spotlight: The Trent XWB-84 EP
Efficiency and Engineering Upgrades
Strategic Context for Delta Air Lines
AirPro News Analysis
Sources
Photo Credit: Rolls-Royce