African Airlines Face Operational Challenges Due to Supply Chain Disruptions
At the inaugural Africa MRO Conference in Addis Ababa, airline technical leaders highlighted significant supply chain issues affecting African airlines. Uganda Airlines and Kenya Airways emphasized chronic parts shortages, long-distance logistics, and limited regional repair capabilities as major challenges. These issues are causing delays in aircraft availability and increasing operational costs. Deborah Acore Luciyamoi from Uganda Airlines noted the lack of MROs capable of engine repairs in Africa, leading to long waits for shop slots abroad. Benson Ndirangu Kamau from Kenya Airways described the daily operational reality of supply chain friction, where identifying and sourcing parts can take up to two weeks, resulting in grounded aircraft and rising penalties. 
