NAIROBI – Kenya Airways has cited the ongoing Russia invasion of Ukraine as the reason behind flight disruptions.
In a statement on Monday, Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said the airline might be forced to cut some flights due to impacts on its supply chain caused by the war in Ukraine.
“The challenges have been occasioned by the Ukraine war crisis which has significantly crippled the Russian supply chain crucial to global aviation,” Kilavuka said in the statement.
The CEO noted that the aviation supply chain is highly dependent on raw materials from many countries, including Russia.
“For example, 100 per cent titanium used on Embraer and 35 per cent titanium used on Boeing are sourced from Russia,” he said, adding that KQ has been experiencing flight disruptions due to delays in securing aircraft components required for maintenance.
Notably, Kenya Airways operates a fleet of Boeing and Embraer planes, which Kilavuka said its titanium is sourced from Russia.
The CEO said KQ is currently finalizing a component support programme, which will help fast-track the securing of the components.
The airline is also actively engaging original equipment manufacturer partners to work on mitigation measures that should ensure the continuity of its network and operations.
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