LATAM Airlines selected Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines to power three new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, marking a return to the British manufacturer after a period of diversification in its widebody fleet.
The Chilean carrier was an early operator of the 787 with Trent engines but faced availability and durability issues in the initial years of service, which affected fleet utilization. More recently, the airline introduced additional Dreamliners powered by GE Aerospace engines, reducing its reliance on a single supplier.
The new agreement indicates a shift back toward Rolls-Royce, following upgrades to the Trent 1000 design. The latest Trent 1000 XE variant incorporates changes to the high-pressure turbine aimed at improving durability and time on wing.
“This agreement reflects the long-standing relationship we have built with Rolls-Royce over time, alongside the evolution of the Trent 1000 engine since 2012,” said LATAM chief executive Roberto Alvo. He added that the engines support efforts to improve efficiency and provide flexibility for future network growth.
The order also comes amid limited recent demand for 787 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines. Boeing data had not shown disclosed Trent selections for nearly three years, although some customers do not reveal engine choices. A deal for eight 787-9 aircraft equipped with Trent engines appeared in March.
LATAM is the largest Boeing 787 operator in Latin America, with a fleet of 39 aircraft, including 10 787-8s and 29 787-9s, counting both owned and leased jets.
