ROLLS-ROYCE’S East Lancashire staff were given a welcome boost after the firm won a £6 billion deal to provide engines made in Pendle.

The firm, which has two sites in Barnoldswick, has agreed a contract – the biggest in its history – with Dubai-based airline Emirates to provide parts for 50 Airbus A380 superjumbo planes.

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The announcement, made in London yesterday, comes just a fortnight after the company slashed 81 jobs at its Bankfield and Ghyll Brow manufacturing sites.

A further 146 Barnoldswick staff were axed last year as part of a restructuring of Rolls-Royce’s aerospace division, which employs more than 900 people in Pendle.

The engine in question, the Trent 900, is also produced in Derby, Bristol, Sunderland, Hucknall, in Nottinghamshire, Ansty, in Warwickshire, and Inchinnan, in Scotland.

Andrew Stephenson, the Conservative candidate for the general election in Pendle, said: “This is another huge boost for Rolls-Royce, which already has a massive order book and confirms why I think its cuts in Barnoldswick are wrong and exceptionally short-sighted.

“Aerospace is an industry growing at a significant rate and the way they are restructuring at Barnoldswick does not make sense.

“I will continue to make this point to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if I am re-elected.

“This deal is good news, though. I certainly welcome this contract.

“I will continue to do everything I can, both as a parliamentary candidate and if re-elected as an MP, to support the employees of Rolls-Royce.”

The 50 Airbus A380 superjumbos are expected to enter service from 2016. Labour’s Pendle candidate, County Cllr Azhar Ali, said: “It is tremendous news for Rolls-Royce and hopefully good news for the supply chain in Pendle and East Lancashire. I have been talking to Lancashire County Council and Rolls-Royce to make sure we are able to help it up-skill the workforce and attract apprentices in order to challenge for more major contracts.”

The Trent 900 powered the first A380 to go into commercial service in 2007, with Singapore Airlines, and Rolls has had a long association with Emirates which has 60 super-jumbos in its fleet and 80 on order.

Rolls-Royce chief executive, John Rishton, said: “We are delighted that Emirates has again placed its trust in our technology, with the biggest order in our history.”

Emirates president, Sir Tim Clark, said: “This announcement is significant not only because it cements the partnership between Emirates and Rolls-Royce, but also because of the significant economic impact that this will have on aviation manufacturing in the UK and Europe.”

Emirates added that the deal further supported trade ties between the UK and the United Arab Emirates.

Emirates is one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, along with Etihad Airways, and is based in Dubai.

It is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 3,500 flights per week from its hub at Dubai International Airport, to more than 142 cities in 78 countries.

The airline is the seventh largest airline in the world in terms of revenue, and is the largest airline in the Middle East in terms of revenue, fleet size, and passengers carried.