Rolls-Royce urges airframers to rethink A320, 737 re-engining

Airbus and Boeing say the market will drive their decision on whether to go ahead with single-aisle re-engining plans after Rolls-Royce urged them to concentrate on bringing all-new single-aisle replacements to the market more quickly.
The UK engine manufacturer is concerned that introducing interim "technology refreshes" of existing narrowbodies will have a net detrimental impact on the industry's ability to deliver step-change reductions in fuel-consumption and emissions, by delaying the introduction of new "highly integrated and optimised" aircraft.
"We have said for a while that we remain unconvinced that re-engining is the right answer for the industry - that it is going to give the net benefits that the industry needs," says R-R civil aerospace president Mark King.
"Whenever a product is made that is not as good as it could possibly be, we worry about whether that product can stand the test of time, and therefore about whether we are actually going to see the return on investment that we need to get.
"One of the concerns with re-engining is whether it causes a delay in a new aircraft. All the analysis we do says that the right answer here is a new aircraft, and we don't want to delay that new aircraft."

The engine maker is working on all-new two- and three-shaft civil engine families, known as "Advance2" and "Advance3" respectively which could be available from the second half of this decade.
Although Airbus is exploring technologies for a longer term all-new single-aisle replacement, it says that "airlines have made it clear that any fuel burn reductions available today would be welcome". As such it working towards a decision later this year on whether to launch the A320 "new engine option", which could equip the narrowbody family with CFM International Leap X or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan engines.
Airbus's programmes chief Tom Williams said earlier this year that the airframer did not consider R-R's offering "a solution that works for re-engining...from either a technical or commercial point of view".
Boeing is studying three alternatives in the single-aisle sector - re-engine the 737, continue with incremental improvements or launch an all-new replacement and will decide which path to take by the end of the year, says marketing vice-president Randy Tinseth.
"We're looking for our customers to lead us in that decision," he says. "Some airlines are saying a 15% improvement in fuel burn is a no-brainer, and at the other end of the scale are leasing companies who [want] nothing to change - ever."