Rolls-Royce has confirmed that it is in talks with Boeing about supplying its new generation UltraFan engine for a new project by the American manufacturer.
The latest discussions are different from those in early 2019, when Rolls-Royce was out of engine supply for the Boeing 797/NMA. Now, the development of UltraFan technologies enabled talks between Boeing and Rolls-Royce.
This also indicates that Boeing is continuing to carry out studies in order to soon present an airplane that fills the gap between the 737 MAX and the 787. At the same time, the new model should provide good flight autonomy, capable of performing routes between Europe and the United States.
“It is well documented that Boeing is exploring the opportunity of a new aircraft”said Rolls CEO Warren East at its annual meeting on Thursday. "Like the other engine manufacturers I'm sure we are in dialogue with Boeing on this."
Rolls-Royce is the first to confirm participation in talks about this Boeing project, after the shutdown carried out during the pandemic.
Boeing's focus remains on the 220- to 270-seat market, but some companies in Asia are interested in cargo capacity, and the oval fuselage design for a new, more efficient widebody than the 787-8. At the same time, airlines in North America and Europe want a plane that is as fuel efficient as possible per seat, and with ample range for transatlantic flights.
Boeing could easily spend more than $15 billion on the NMA, according to Ken Herbert, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity.
As the plane's development process was suspended during the pandemic, now the American manufacturer does not have an expectation of when it will present the project.
Street: Bloomberg
