Kenya Airways Embraer Aircraft Resume Ahead of Festive Season
Kenya Airways has resumed operations with its Embraer narrow-body fleet, returning the second of three aircraft to service, boosting reliability and capacity as the airline prepares for increased holiday travel demand.
The planes were flagged off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Tuesday, signifying an important step in a phased aircraft refresh program currently ongoing at the national carrier. The first aircraft was restored to service on December 18, with the last aircraft to be returned to service before the end of the year.
The restoration is a result of an innovative partnership between Kenya Airways and the State Department for Aviation, under which they have sought to address logistics issues associated with spare parts and eliminate various bottlenecks in their operations that had affected the availability of their fleet.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Acting Group Managing Director and CEO, Kenya Airways, Captain George Kamal, indicated that the return of the aircraft marks a renewed momentum for the airline.
“Today’s flag-off signals an essential operational milestone. With the gradual return of our aircraft, we began creating the required continuity in order to enter next year as a robust carrier,” said Admiral Kamal.
Government officials clarified that the assistance offered to the airline has been for operational enablement purposes and not financial assistance. The assistance offered has involved facilitating the availability of the input costs for aircraft maintenance services.
The Principal Secretary in charge of the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ms. Teresia Mbaika, observed that this development is an affirmative signal regarding the future of the air industry in Kenya.
“The gradual reintroduction of aircraft is a positive indicator of a revival. The government’s involvement continues to emphasize strategic enablers and regulatory alignment in order to provide a stable environment in which our national carrier can operate in a sustainable manner,” she added.
This increase in airline availability means that Kenya Airways will be able to meet the high demand that comes during the festive periods. This is because the festive periods remain one of the peak periods during the entire year.