ENGINEERING giant Rolls-Royce has won a major plane engine order worth up to £265 million.

Air Canada has bought nine new A330 jets made by Airbus Industrie, the four-nation European consortium that includes British Aerospace.

Deliveries of the R-R Trent 772 engines will begin in October 1999 and continue through to October 2001.

The firm's Barnoldswick plant manufactures components including fan blades and engine bearing housings.

Aeroengine division commercial director John Cheffins said the deal meant Rolls-Royce had now captured 39 per cent of engines for the A330 planes.

He added: "This latest commitment from one of North America's flagship airlines is profoundly important and underpins the excellent performance of the Trent 700 on the family of aircraft."

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