Kenya Airways is unable to obtain spare parts for its aircraft. Thus, it could begin to suffer disruptions in its operations due to delays in the maintenance of its aircraft. The airline, one of Africa’s largest, may be forced to start canceling flights if the difficulties persist.
As the company’s CEO Allan Kilavuka told Al Jazeera, «the challenges have been caused by the Ukraine crisis, which has significantly crippled the Russian supply chain, crucial to global aviation.» The executive noted that titanium from Russia is one of the key raw materials used by the industry. The metal, one of the most difficult to refine, is crucial to the manufacture of commercial and military aircraft, satellites, and other aerospace products.
Purchasing of titanium from Russia accelerated as a result of improved trade relations with the West following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. After Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, the industry began to diversify its sources. Boeing and other US companies can still import Russian titanium, despite the wave of sanctions.
Kilavuka’s statement comes a week after the Nairobi Stock Exchange announced the suspension of trading in the airline’s shares for another year. Kenya Airways has not been listed on the market since July 2020. The airline also defaulted on a $525 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of the United States last year.
