- Kilavuka added that the delay was caused by global challenges with the supply of some aircraft components.
- "This has constrained our aircraft availability because we do not have extra aircraft capacity to help alleviate the delays," he said.
Image: FILE
Kenya Airways has announced that it is experiencing flight disruption.
A statement by CEO Allan Kilavuka said the disruptions are a result of delays in getting the aircraft, which are undergoing scheduled maintenance, back into operations.
Kilavuka added that the delay was caused by global challenges with the supply of some aircraft components.
"This has constrained our aircraft availability because we do not have extra aircraft capacity to help alleviate the delays," he said.
Pointing out that the supply chain of needed products was crippled by the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Kilavuka said the challenges were affecting airlines globally.
Russia produces 100 per cent titanium used by Embraer and 35 per cent titanium used by Boeing.
The Kenya Airways MD further said there was a shortage of qualified workers in Europe and North America, where most airlines get their components.
This, he added, was a challenge to manufacturers looking to ramp up production of aircraft components to overcome delivery delays.
Kilavuka assured the KQ customers that the company is working to reduce the impact of the supply chain delays on its operations.
"We are also proactively anticipating these delays and communicating them as soon as possible," he said.
He added:
"We are committed, and are working with our partners, to find a solution that minimizes the disruptions and the inconvenience to our customers."
Apologising for the inconvenience, the CEO said they were finalizing a component support program that will help fast-track the securing of components.
"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," Kilavuka added.
He further said there will be changes in the flight schedules with reductions in some frequencies, in the vent that the supply chain challenges persist.