An improved version of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine has passed its European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type test.

The Trent 900 EP2 engine, offering a further fuel burn improvement of up to 0.8 per cent, will become the new build standard for the engine next year once full certification is achieved.

Rosie Toogood, Rolls-Royce, Programme Director – Trent 900, said: "This milestone is a significant step toward full EASA certification for the Trent 900 EP2, expected in early 2014. We are committed to delivering our improvement programme to ensure that the Trent 900 remains the engine of choice for A380 operators."

The Trent 900 EP2 improvements include: optimised fan blade tip clearance; improved turbine case cooling; improved sealing for the low-pressure (LP) turbine; an optimised intermediate pressure (IP) compressor; an improved engine sector stator; and improvements to the air flow system.

The type test success comes as the Trent 900, selected by 11 of 17 customers to have made an engine choice for the A380, continues to excel in service.

Loet Vudhijaya, Director, Maintenance Control Center (MCC), THAI Airways International, said: "THAI Airways International has just celebrated 12 months of operational service of the A380 powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine. In that time, our Trent 900s have accumulated over 600,000 engine flying hours and recorded zero basic engine delays and zero engine-related diversions, turnbacks or aborted takeoffs. The service and monitoring offered by Rolls-Royce has also helped ensure we minimise our maintenance costs."