Rolls-Royce has secured a deal to service engines for Vietnamese airline VietJet as the budget carrier expands its flight network into long-haul operations.
The aerospace giant, which has UK bases in Bristol and Derby, will provide maintenance work for its Trent 700 engines which will power ten Airbus A330ceo aircraft.
Rolls-Royce, which is currently developing the world's largest jet engine, said its care package would provide operational certainty and boost availability of VietJet's first widebody aircraft.
The airline recently announced plans to launch 13 additional routes between the South East Asian country and India later this year.
The agreement is the execution of a memorandum of understanding signed by both companies in Edinburgh last year.
Ewen McDonald, chief customer officer at Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, said: "We are delighted to execute this service agreement with VietJet as the airline begins operating widebody aircraft and expand its network into long-haul operations. We look forward to supporting their Trent 700 fleet for many years."
VietJet managing director Dinh Viet Phuong added: "The Trent 700 engines supported by TotalCare will bring a technological breakthrough to VietJet’s fleet, helping increase range and improve quality with the aircraft's technical reliability and operational efficiency.
"We hope this partnership with Rolls-Royce will also boost international trade through connecting people around the world both conveniently and economically in the future."
Rolls-Royce said its Trent 700 engine had so far amassed more than 65 million flying hours and provided the "highest thrust available" on the Airbus A330.
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