In a strategic move to enhance operational efficiency and boost spare parts availability for its long-haul fleet, Kenya Airways has entered into a five-year partnership with Lufthansa Technik, a leading maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) specialist. The agreement will see Lufthansa Technik provide Total Component Support (TCS) for Kenya Airways’ nine Boeing 787-8 aircraft until 2028.
The collaboration aims to enhance the availability of spare parts for the Dreamliner fleet in a cost-effective manner, allowing the airline to streamline its technical operations and ensure a seamless passenger experience. The Total Component Support (TCS) provided by Lufthansa Technik will enable Kenya Airways to significantly increase the availability of essential spare parts for its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet. This means quicker turnaround times for maintenance and repairs, minimizing aircraft downtime, and enhancing operational efficiency.
The comprehensive agreement encompasses various aspects, including classic MRO services, component supply, Aircraft On Ground (AOG) support, parts-pooling, and logistics services. By securing access to Lufthansa Technik’s extensive global parts pool, Kenya Airways will be better equipped to overcome challenges related to the availability of aircraft components, thereby ensuring smoother operations and improved customer satisfaction.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the global aviation industry, resulting in grounded fleets and disrupted supply chains. As air travel demand rebounds, Kenya Airways has been actively working towards bringing back its parked aircraft into service. This effort, however, led to an increased demand for spare parts, further exacerbated by a worldwide shortage of raw materials affecting the availability of certain aircraft components.
In light of these challenges, Kenya Airways recognized the need to optimize its supply chain and reduce reliance on the current global supply situation. Allan Kilavuka, Group Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, highlights the significance of a more stable and reliable supply chain for the airline’s future operations, stating, “Due to increased demand in air travel, Kenya Airways embarked on a journey of returning to service aircraft that were parked during the pandemic. This resulted in an increased demand for parts to make the aircraft ready for flight. There has been a worldwide shortage of some raw materials negatively affecting the availability of some aircraft parts.”
With the support of Lufthansa Technik’s Total Component Support, Kenya Airways aims to overcome these challenges and reduce dependency on the current global supply chain situation. The partnership will not only address the post-pandemic ramp-up phase but also strengthen the airline’s long-term operational capabilities. Lufthansa Technik’s extensive experience, expertise, and worldwide network of material and parts pools are poised to play a crucial role in strengthening the partnership and ensuring smooth operations for the Kenyan flag carrier.
“With access to our worldwide network of material and parts pools, our valued customer will indeed be able to significantly mitigate uncertainties in the global aircraft parts supply chain,” says Kai-Stefan Roepke, Vice President Corporate Sales Europe, Middle East and Africa at Lufthansa Technik. “We look forward to supporting Kenya Airways in the best possible way through our Total Component Support. This applies to the post-pandemic ramp-up phase as well as to the coming years of our cooperation.”
