Rolls-Royce is to deliver Trent 700EP engines for Gulf Air’s 20 Airbus A330 aircraft as per a $1.5bn contract signed at the 2009 Paris Air Show.

Gulf Air deputy chief executive officer Ismail Karimi said that the Rolls-Royce A330 engines were best suited to the company’s needs – technically, operationally, commercially and environmentally.

The Trent 700EP has lowest emissions and 1.3% less fuel burn.

The company will also provide long-term service for the engines under the contract.

The delivery for the engines will begin in 2012.

Over the last three years, Rolls-Royce has secured more than 70% of the A330 market and eight of the nine Middle East A330 operators have Trent 700-powered fleets.