Rolls-Royce still willing to compete in narrowbody engine market

Rolls-Royce CEO John Rishton said the company's decision not to develop a new commercial engine for the A320neo reflects its opinion that airlines would prefer all-new aircraft rather than existing airframes with newer engines (Bloomberg, 07-May-2011). The company believes there is "not a strong business case" for it taking part in the A320neo programme. Rolls-Royce has "certainly not abdicated" from the narrowbody aircraft engine market, said Mr Rishton, and the company is taking a long view towards developing engines for all-new narrowbody aircraft from Airbus and Boeing.