Kenya Airways says it’s experiencing flight disruptions as a result of delays in getting parts for aircraft maintenance.
The airline’s chief executive Allan Kilavuka said the airline had found it difficult to get components required for some of its aircraft undergoing maintenance.
He said the airline could be forced to cut some flights should the challenges persist.
He blamed the Russia-Ukraine war for the problem, which he said had crippled the supply chain of Russian raw materials crucial in the aviation industry.
“The challenges have been occasioned by the Ukraine war crisis which has significantly crippled the Russian supply chain crucial to global aviation,” he said.
“For example, 100% titanium used on Embraer and 35% titanium used on Boeing are sourced from Russia. With a limited inventory, airlines have had to look worldwide to find the parts they need.”
Shortage of employees in Europe and North America where airlines get their components have also impacted the supply chain.
‘This has exacerbated the delay in supply chains and compromised the availability of components for airlines,” it added.
“From the onset we would like to assure our customers that we are doing everything possible within our control to reduce the impact of these supply chain delays on our operations.”
The company said that it was working with partners to address the challenge.
“To that end, we are currently finalizing a component support program that will help fast track the securing of components,” it said.
“We are also actively engaging our OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partners to work on mitigation measures which should ensure continuity of our network and operations.”
KQ noted that it will be forced to reschedule flights if the shortage persists.
“We sincerely apologise to our guests for the inconvenience but assure them of our commitment to provide the highest level of service during this time.”
