Aircraft & Engines

A Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine, the powerplant for the new Airbus A350, made its first flight on an A380 test aircraft in Toulouse, France. The aircraft flew with one of its four Trent 900 engines replaced by the Trent XWB.

El Al Israel Airlines has signed an agreement to sell and lease back two CFM engines, 56-7B, for around $13-$14 million. El Al leased back those engines for seven years at a lease rate of 0.75%-1.2% per month with an option to extend the contract by five years. As a result of the sale, El Al is expected to earn $9 million in the 2012 first quarter.

Air Nostrum received delivery of a CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet, its 75th Bombardier aircraft. The delivery follows nine CRJ1000 NextGens, 11 CRJ900s, and 35 CRJ200 regional jets, as well as 19 Q300 turboprops.

Asiana Airlines has selected MTU Maintenance Hannover to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for its CF6-80C2 engines. The five-year maintenance agreement covers the CF6-80C2 engines powering Asiana’s Boeing 767 and 747 fleets.