Kenya Airways warns of flight disruptions due to global spare parts shortage
Kenya Airways has issued a cautionary statement regarding potential flight disruptions and delays in the next two weeks due to challenges in securing necessary aircraft components for maintenance.
Allan Kilavuka, the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, expressed concerns about a global shortage of aircraft spare parts that has impacted the airline’s maintenance schedule, resulting in some planes being grounded for a more extended period than anticipated.
“Our current flight schedule may experience disruptions in the coming weeks mainly due to challenges in the aircraft spare parts global supply chain. These challenges are leading to an extended ground time of our aircraft for maintenance,” explained Kilavuka in the statement released late on Friday, December 8.
The CEO expressed gratitude to customers for their loyalty and support while assuring them that the airline is actively working to minimize the impact of the situation.
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He urged passengers to stay informed by checking the status of their flights on the airline’s website, Customer Excellence Center, or mobile app.
“We kindly ask you to check updates on any changes to your flight schedule by checking on our website, contacting our Customer Excellency Centre (CEC) or on our mobile app. We anticipate that these circumstances may persist for approximately two weeks, and we want to thank you in advance for your understanding and patience during this time,” added Kilavuka.
In June of this year, Kenya Airways faced a similar challenge when it was compelled to ground several planes for an extended period during maintenance checks due to the global shortage of spare parts.
The SkyTeam carrier had previously flagged the risk of service disruptions because of the unexpected impact of ongoing supply chain challenges.
“The yields are very strong, but obviously the costs are high,” Kilavuka remarked earlier, highlighting the delicate balance between strong revenues and the financial strain imposed by the shortage of spare parts.
Kenya Airways, known for its strategy of connecting African travelers to the world through its Nairobi hub, operates a fleet consisting of Boeing and Embraer planes.
The airline reassured passengers that it would provide timely information and assistance to help them navigate through any challenges arising from the flight disruptions.