Rolls-Royce plans to sell electric flight division to focus on jet engines

A Rolls-Royce worker with the company's MT30 engine [1] This article is more than 3 months old

Rolls-Royce plans to sell electric flight division to focus on jet engines

This article is more than 3 months old

CEO Tufan Erginbilgic aims for record operating profits as he launches new strategy

Rolls-Royce will sell its electric flight division as it focuses on improving profits in its jet engine business, under a new plan from its chief executive, Tufan Erginbilgic.

The FTSE 100 manufacturer will aim for record operating profits of between GBP2.5bn and GBP2.8bn a year, compared with GBP837m in 2022, it said in a strategy published on Tuesday.

Rolls-Royce has enjoyed much-improved performance over 2023 thanks to the end of coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and the recovery in air travel.

The Derby-based engineering company makes jet engines for larger wide-body planes that are used generally for long-haul travel, so it has recovered more slowly than rival engine manufacturers.

First transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable jet fuel to take off