Etihad Airways’ decision to expand its Airbus widebody fleet with additional A330neo, A350-1000 and A350F aircraft is set to deliver a meaningful boost to the UK’s aerospace manufacturing sector, with each aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines assembled and tested in Derby, and all wings for both aircraft families to be manufactured at Airbus’s Broughton facility in North Wales.
The Middle Eastern carrier has placed a firm order for six A330-900s, seven more A350-1000s and three A350F freighters, alongside a previously announced commitment to lease nine A330neos. For UK industry, the significance lies not only in the selection of Rolls-Royce propulsion—the A330neo is powered exclusively by the Trent 7000, while Etihad’s growing A350 fleet uses the Trent XWB-97—but also in the fact that all wings for both aircraft families will be manufactured at Airbus’s Broughton facility in North Wales.
Rolls-Royce welcomed the announcement at the Dubai Airshow, emphasising the long-term value of Etihad’s confidence in its Trent family of engines. The Derby facility—one of the UK’s most advanced aerospace manufacturing sites—oversees the assembly and testing of Trent 7000 and Trent XWB engines, supporting thousands of high-value engineering and supply-chain jobs across the country. The Trent 7000, which entered service in 2018, has amassed more than three million flying hours and is currently benefiting from a major investment programme aimed at increasing durability and time on wing. Enhancements delivered so far have tripled time on wing in some cases, with further improvements due in 2026. The Trent XWB-97, which powers the A350-1000 and A350F, is undergoing its own improvement cycle, ultimately targeting a doubling of time on wing in challenging environments from 2028.
These developments form part of Rolls-Royce’s wider £1bn investment programme covering its modern Trent engines, much of which is being delivered by UK engineering teams. Airbus described Etihad’s latest order as a continued endorsement of its next-generation widebody portfolio, with the A330neo and A350 delivering up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO₂ emissions than previous-generation competitors. The UK’s role extends beyond engine production: the Broughton wing plant, one of Europe’s largest aerospace manufacturing sites, will supply the advanced composite wings for all of Etihad’s future A330neo and A350 aircraft. The work supports thousands of jobs in North Wales and anchors a wider supply chain of British SMEs providing materials, tooling and precision components.
Etihad’s fleet expansion also aligns with the industry’s broader move toward sustainable aviation. Both aircraft families are certified to operate with up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel, with Airbus aiming for 100% SAF capability by 2030—an ambition likely to stimulate further innovation across the UK aerospace sector. Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, said the renewed partnership with Etihad reflects strong confidence in the Trent engines and the company’s current investment trajectory.
Etihad’s latest order adds to more than 1,400 A350-family and 1,900 A330-family aircraft ordered globally, reinforcing international demand for aircraft underpinned by major UK-built components. For Derby, Broughton and the wider British aerospace industry, the airline’s commitment represents another vote of confidence in the UK’s role in shaping the next generation of long-haul aviation.
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