Rolls-Royce has secured a major service agreement with Taiwan-based China Airlines, signing TotalCare contracts covering 36 Trent XWB engines. The deal includes 30 Trent XWB-97 and six Trent XWB-84 engines, which will power 15 Airbus A350-1000s and three A350-900s respectively. Airbus originally announced the A350-1000 order in 2025.
The agreement marks a significant expansion of China Airlines’ existing A350 fleet. The carrier currently operates 15 Trent XWB-powered A350 aircraft, and this addition will bring its total fleet of the type to 33, reinforcing its long-haul operational capabilities.
As part of the arrangement, China Airlines has reaffirmed its commitment to Rolls-Royce’s flagship TotalCare programme. The comprehensive service solution transfers time on wing and maintenance cost risk from the airline back to Rolls-Royce, offering greater predictability and operational confidence. Powered by advanced engine health monitoring systems, TotalCare provides customers with enhanced aircraft availability, reliability, and efficiency throughout the engine lifecycle.
Ewen McDonald, Chief Customer Officer – Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, welcomed the deepening collaboration. “We’re delighted to deepen our partnership with China Airlines through this TotalCare agreement. The Trent XWB family delivers exceptional fuel efficiency, reliability and durability. The Trent XWB-97 is the most utilised aircraft engine in the world, making it a great choice for airlines to expand their routes,” he said.
McDonald added: “Thanks to China Airlines for your trust in Rolls-Royce. With our continuous product improvements and comprehensive service support, we look forward to powering China Airlines to unlock new route opportunities with confidence and efficiency.”
The Trent XWB-97 has amassed over four million flying hours across seven years of service, demonstrating robust field performance. Rolls-Royce has progressively introduced durability enhancements for the variant; the first two phases are already delivering a 60 percent increase in time on wing. A third phase, scheduled to enter service in 2028, is expected to double time on wing in harsh operating conditions and improve longevity by 50 percent in benign environments.
The agreement underscores Rolls-Royce’s expanding footprint in the Asia-Pacific region and reflects growing customer confidence in both the Trent XWB platform and the value proposition of its aftermarket services. As airlines resume network growth and prioritise fleet reliability, comprehensive power-by-the-hour agreements like TotalCare are becoming central to long-term fleet planning.
