West Craven’s aerospace firms have received a double boost.

Rolls-Royce at Barnoldswick is expected to benefit from a £6 billion order from Japan Airlines for more than 30 new Airbus wide-body jets.

They will be powered by Trent XWB engines and the blades are made at Rolls’ Skipton Road site, which employs 1,000 people.

Under the latest deal, the Far East airline has secured 31 A350s, which will enter service from 2019 onwards, as part of a six-year fleet replacement programme.

An option has been taken on a further 25 craft, which are believed to have been selected in preference to Boeing’s delayed 777X.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “This is yet more good news for the aerospace industry in Lancashire and the north-west.”

The group has secured more than 750 orders for the jets to date and aims to start delivering them to customers by the end of next year.

Meanwhile, another local aerospace firm has signed a major deal to repair jet engines for an American company.

Euravia Engineering, based on Colne Road, Kelbrook, will work with Greenwich AeroGroup, from Wichita, to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for Pratt & Whitney’s PT6A and PT6T engines on fixed and rotor wing aircraft in the United States.

The firm, which won a Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2010, has a mobile repair team in America, and engines can also be brought to the UK.

Euravia managing director Dennis Mendoros said: “We are very excited to work with Greenwich AeroGroup to expand Euravia’s services into the United States. Our commitment to quality engineering, cost-effective services and personal service aligns well with Greenwich AeroGroup’s pledge to provide customers with optimal aviation solutions.”

Jeff Mihalic, senior vice-president of Greenwich AeroGroup, said: “Euravia has an outstanding international reputation for delivering cost-effective, high-quality gas turbine engine services with exceptional performance and reliability.”

Euravia was founded in 1988 by Sudanese-born Mr Mendoros and the company has grown to a £10m turnover business, specialising in repairing and overhauling US-made Pratt & Whitney jet engines.