Airbus said Tuesday that Emirates has placed orders for six and taken options for 10 A340-500 and -600 jetliners to be fitted with new technology Rolls-Royce Trent 500 turbofan engines.

The news came just after Rolls managing director of airline operation John Cheffins said that International Lease Finance Corporation had ordered up to 10 A340-500 and -600 airliners to be fitted with Trent 500s. The ILFC aircraft are to be delivered between 2002 and 2006 for service with European and Asian airline customers. The contract is worth up to $400 million to Rolls-Royce.

The two orders bring to 10 the number of customers who have ordered A340-500 and -600 long-range aircraft, for which the Trent 500 is the sole engine choice. Orders and options for the latest A340 derivative now total 120, representing up $4.8 billion of income for the UK engine manufacturer.

By Fred George