Contract

Rolls-Royce PLC
19 April 2000


ROLLS-ROYCE WINS $350 MILLION TRENT ORDER FROM BRITISH MIDLAND


Rolls-Royce plc, the aerospace, marine and energy group, has been selected by 
British Midland to supply its Trent 700 engines for the airline's new fleet of
Airbus Industrie A330-200 aircraft.  

The value of the Trent business, including spare engines, is US$350 million
and covers a total of 12 aircraft.  British Midland will initially acquire
four A330s and has taken options on a further eight.  Deliveries are scheduled
to begin in April 2001.

British Midland Chairman Sir Michael Bishop said the decision underlined the
airline's commitment to operate long-haul services as an integral part of
future growth strategy. 

'The Trent has been selected after a detailed and comprehensive evaluation of
the engines available. We are satisfied the decision gives us both the best
technical and economic option, and the engine with the best environmental
credentials,' he added. 

Richard Smallwood, Rolls-Royce Senior Vice President, Airlines, said:  'The
combination of the A330 and Trent provides the operational flexibility which
British Midland requires. It not only builds on the Trent's strong presence on
this programme but extends a valued and long-established relationship.'

British Midland, which will take delivery of the 72,000lb thrust Trent 772
version of the powerplant, becomes the 16th operator of Trent powered A330s
and the first UK airline to use the engine for scheduled services.  It is
already in service with British A330 operators Monarch and Airtours.  The
Trent has a 40 per cent market share on this latest Airbus wide-body twinjet
and will power over 60 per cent of A330s delivered next year. 


Rolls-Royce has long-standing links with British Midland.  Recently it has
supplied the V2500 powerplant, produced by the International Aero Engines
joint venture for Airbus A320 series airliners, AE3007 engines for BM's latest
regional aircraft, the Embraer ERJ 145, and Tays for Fokker 100s and Fokker
70s.

Note to editors:
Rolls-Royce plc is a global company providing power on land, sea and air.  The
company has established leading positions in civil aerospace, defence, marine
and energy markets.  Its core gas turbine technology has created one of the
broadest product ranges of aero engines in the world, with around 50,000
engines in service in over 150 countries.  Customers include more than 500
airlines, 2,400 corporate and utility operators and 160 armed forces, using
both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. 

Rolls-Royce is the global leader in marine power systems with a broad product
range and full systems integration capability. Over 2,000 marine customers and
more than 30 navies use Rolls-Royce propulsion. The company is investing in
new products and capabilities for energy markets which include the oil and gas
industry and power generation. It also develops its own power projects through
Rolls-Royce Power Ventures Ltd.

Rolls-Royce pioneered gas turbine technology for aerospace, power generation
and marine propulsion and is involved in all the major future programmes in
these fields. These include the Trent aero and industrial engines, the
Eurofighter Typhoon and Joint Strike Fighter combat engines, the WR21 marine
engine and leading edge water jet propulsion systems.

For further information contact:

Martin Johnson
Rolls-Royce plc
PO Box 31
Derby DE24 8BJ
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]