Airbus getting stronger engine for rival to 777-300

Airbus plans to announce at the Paris Air Show a more powerful engine for its planned A350-1000, strengthening that jet's position against the jewel in Boeing's current airplane lineup, the 777-300ER.

British engine-maker Rolls-Royce will provide an enhanced version of its Trent XWB jet engine to increase the range of the A350-1000, the largest model in the proposed A350 jet family, aviation analyst Scott Hamilton reported on his Leeham.net blog Sunday. The Seattle Times has confirmed his report.

Boeing has been waiting for Airbus to more firmly define the A350-1000 before deciding when and how it needs to upgrade the 777 to stay competitive.

Executives in Seattle have said that before they do a major upgrade to the 777, they expect to develop a new small airplane to replace the 737 and also a larger version of the Dreamliner, the 787-10.

Rolls-Royce will provide Airbus an engine variant that adds 5.4 percent more thrust to the Trent XWB version on the two smaller A350 variants, Hamilton said. Airbus declined to comment.

In its current lineup of jets, Airbus has no rival to the 777, so for the next few years the Boeing twin-jet should sell exceptionally well. The A350 represents a potential threat longer term.

Some airline executives, including Emirates Chief Executive Tim Clark, have urged Airbus to add power and increase the size of the A350-1000. Clark wants a big twin-jet capable of flying fully loaded from Dubai to Los Angeles.

Hamilton reported that Airbus won't increase the size of the 350-seat 1000, which is smaller than the 365-seat 777-300ER.

The extra thrust should increase the jet's range by some 575 miles (500 nautical miles), beyond that of the 777, but will still fall short of Clark's goal, Hamilton said.

Developing the higher-thrust engine will push out the A350-1000's entry into service from 2015 to late 2016.

Dominic Gates: 206-464-2963 or dgates@seattletimes.com