A Malaysian airline has received the first of dozens of new jets that are powered by Rolls-Royce engines designed and developed in Derby.

AirAsia took delivery of its first A330neo aircraft, which will be operated by its long-haul affiliate AirAsia X.

Just over a year ago, the airline announced it had ordered 34 of the jets for AirAsia X, which are exclusively powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent 7000.

The engine, devised at the firm’s Civil Aerospace site in Sinfin, brings together more than 50 million flying hours of experience from the Trent 700, which powers the original version of the A330.

It combines architecture from the Trent 1000 TEN – the latest version of the Trent 1000 engine – and the latest technology from the Trent XWB.

The Trent 7000 is more powerful and fuel-efficient than the Trent 700, while producing less noise.

AirAsia’s first A330neo was delivered via lessor Avolon and is the first of two new jets that are set to join the airline’s fleet by the end of the year.

The aircraft will be based at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport in Thailand, supporting the airline’s growth and network expansion plans to key markets such as Australia, Japan and South Korea.

The AirAsia X A330-900 features 377 seats in a two-class configuration, comprising 12 premium flatbeds and 365 economy class seats.

AirAsia X currently operates 36 A330-300 aircraft and is the largest customer for the A330neo with a total of 66 on firm order.

In a statement, Airbus said: “With its enhanced economics, the A330neo will bring a step-change in fuel efficiency for AirAsia’s long-haul operations.

The A330neo is the true new-generation aircraft building on the most popular wide-body A330’s features and leveraging on A350 XWB technology.

“Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo provides an unprecedented level of efficiency – with 25% lower fuel burn per seat than previous generation competitors.”