Rolls-Royce PLC has announced that it has inked an order worth $1 billion order from aviation major Gulf Air.

The order has been signed to supply engines for the Bahrain-based airline’s new Airbus A330 long-haul aircraft.

According to sources, British aircraft engine manufacturer will supply Trent 700EP engines to power 20 Airbus A330 aircraft, with deliveries beginning in 2012.

The scope of order also entails a long-term service agreement on the new engines, as well as an extension of the service agreement on the Trent 700s that power 10 of Gulf Air’s A330s already in service.

The sources said that Rolls-Royce has bagged more than 70 per cent of the market for A330 engines over the last three years and eight of the nine Middle East’s A330 operators have selected Trent 700 engines to power their fleets.

Last month Gulf Air ordered 15 A320 single-aisle planes for its regional flights and 20 A330-300s to be used on flights to Europe and Asia.

(via TopNews Arab Emirates. Contributed by Kadir bin Rashid)