Uganda Airlines
The first Airbus aircraft delivered to Uganda Airlines – an A330-800 version. Credit: © Airbus - Master Films - Hervé Goussé.

National flag carrier Uganda Airlines has signed a TotalCare agreement with aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce for its new A330neo aircraft.

The carrier received two A330neo aircraft in December 2020 and last month, respectively. Both are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

With the agreement, Rolls-Royce will be responsible for managing Uganda Airlines’ A330neo Trent 7000 engines’ maintenance.

The airline will be charged on a dollar-per-flying-hour payment mechanism. It will keep the engines on the wings and in service, as well as minimise operational disruptions by enhancing aircraft availability.

Uganda Airlines CEO Cornwell Muleya said: “We are proud to include our new Rolls-Royce powered Airbus A330neos into our fleet and this agreement will ensure that our Trent 7000 engines will be maintained to world-leading levels of service.”

A part of the Trent family of engines, the Trent 7000 is the seventh and latest member of the family.

The engine first entered service in November 2018 while the Trent 700 logged in more than 50 million flying hours of experience.

Weighing up to 72,000lb, the Trent 7000 helps the A330neo to reduce fuel burn per seat by 25% compared with previous generation competitor aircraft. It also significantly minimises noise levels.

Rolls-Royce customers senior vice-president John Kelly said: “Our TotalCare agreement will ensure Uganda Airlines, the latest member of the family of Trent operators, receives our flagship standard of service, maximising aircraft availability and the ability to plan forward financially.”

Earlier this month, Rolls-Royce tested 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on Pearl 700 business aviation engine as part of its goal to operate reach net-zero carbon by 2050.