Emirates Order Talks Shadowed by A350-1000 Engine Concerns

Emirates Airline President, Tim Clark, has stated that the airline will not order Airbus A350-1000s unless Rolls-Royce makes significant improvements to the Trent XWB-97 engine, including a thrust increase. Clark expressed concerns about the engine's performance and durability, stating that it is not meeting the airline's expectations. Rolls-Royce acknowledges the need for improvements but rejects the idea that the engine is defective. The issue cannot be resolved through a lower-cost maintenance agreement, and Emirates is requesting guarantees for up to 2,500 cycles on wing. Clark also pushed for a 10,000 lb. thrust increase. Emirates recently placed an order for 90 Boeing 777Xs and is negotiating a deal with Airbus for up to 50 A350-1000s.