Rolls-Royce reveals costly new problems with its jet engines

Firm says fault affects 'small number' of Package B Trent 1000 engines, adding to problems with a different model revealed in March

The news came just hours after the company refused to confirm or deny reports that it was set to axe 4,000 jobs (REUTERS)

Rolls-Royce has discovered costly technical problems with a set of its engines, just weeks after it found a separate durability issue.

The engine maker said the fault affected a “small number” of its Package B Trent 1000 engines, adding to problems with its Package C Trent 1000 engines, revealed in March.

Rolls-Royce will inspect the Package B engines, which are used in Boeing aeroplanes, but said it will still hit financial targets for the year.

The news came just hours after the company refused to confirm or deny reports that it was set to axe 4,000 jobs.

In a statement, the company said: “We have therefore agreed with Boeing and the relevant regulatory authorities to carry out a one-off inspection of our Trent 1000 Package B fleet, to further inform our understanding.

“The Package B standard has been in service since 2012 and consists of 166 engines.”

In March, Rolls-Royce revealed that parts on around 500 of its Package C Trent 1000 engines were wearing out more quickly than expected. That meant higher costs related to additional inspections, but the group lowered its discretionary spending in order to hit financial targets.

The company announced plans to restructure in January and has hired consultants Alvarez and Marsal to act as advisors. Chief executive Warren East has described the company as inefficient.

Rolls-Royce made a pre-tax profit of £4.9bn in 2017, including a £2.6bn boost from the strengthening of the pound.