Rolls-Royce has announced that its Trent XWB-84 Enhanced Performance (EP) engine has delivered significantly greater fuel savings than originally anticipated during its first year of airline service.

The company reported that operational data from the first 34 engines in service across three airline operators indicates a 1.8% reduction in fuel consumption, exceeding the engine’s initial certified target of a 1% fuel burn improvement over the standard Trent XWB-84.

Performance exceeds initial targets

The Trent XWB-84 EP entered commercial service in May 2025 as part of Rolls-Royce’s £1 billion investment programme in its Trent engine family. The engine was certified with a two-decibel noise reduction and a projected one percent fuel burn improvement compared with the baseline Trent XWB-84.

According to Rolls-Royce, in-service performance data has shown fuel efficiency gains of approximately 1.8%, representing almost double the originally anticipated improvement.

Operational and economic benefits

The manufacturer estimates that the fuel savings achieved by the enhanced engine could equate to approximately US$450,000 in annual fuel savings per aircraft. For an airline operating a fleet of 20 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, this could amount to savings of around US$9 million per year.

Rolls-Royce also reported that the Trent XWB-84 EP is expected to reach 100,000 flying hours within its first year of service, highlighting both the utilisation levels and reliability of the engine in commercial operations.

Supporting airline efficiency goals

Adam Davies, Director Commercial Aviation, Trent XWB at Rolls-Royce, said the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the company’s investment in the Trent engine family and support airline objectives related to operational efficiency and sustainability.

Rolls-Royce continues to manufacture both the standard Trent XWB-84 and the Enhanced Performance variant, providing operators with different options to meet fleet requirements. The company said the EP version is establishing a new benchmark for fuel efficiency within the Trent XWB-84 family.