IN a statement released on Monday, Kenya Airways, one of Africa’s largest carriers, alerted customers to brace for potential disruptions to its flight operations over the busy Christmas holiday period. The airline cited a shortage of spare parts impacting the global supply chain, estimating that these shortages would lead to flight disruptions for approximately two weeks.
According to the statement seen by Reuters, the airline stated, ‘These challenges are leading to extended ground time of our aircraft for maintenance. This may also lead to the grounding of one or more of our aircraft.’
This isn’t the first time Kenya Airways has grappled with spare parts shortages. The airline initially highlighted these issues in January, attributing the scarcity to the repercussions of the Ukraine war, which significantly disrupted the Russian supply chain crucial for global aviation.
At that time, the company had pointed out that the conflict in Ukraine had interrupted the supply of titanium from Russia, a critical raw material vital for the maintenance of planes.
Kenya Airways, renowned for its strategy centred around connecting African travellers to various global destinations through its Nairobi hub, manages a fleet comprising Boeing and Embraer planes. The current spare parts shortage is expected to affect the airline’s operational capacity during the festive season, impacting travellers relying on the carrier’s services.