Nairobi, Kenya – National carrier Kenya Airways has been forced to ground two of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners as a global shortage of aircraft spare parts bites, costing the airline an estimated US$15 million (about Sh1.95 billion) in lost revenue. Chief executive Allan Kilavuka said the planes were taken out of service in mid-August after the carrier struggled to source critical components during the peak travel season.

According to Kilavuka, the parts shortage has cost Kenya Airways an entire peak season’s worth of revenue and reduced its operational fleet to 34 aircraft. With flights oversubscribed, passengers have faced delays and rescheduling. Kilavuka explained that the airline expects new parts to arrive between November and December, which would allow the grounded Dreamliners to return to service before the year ends. He noted that Kenya Airways is exploring short‑term leasing options and swapping parts with partner airlines to keep more planes flying.

The situation underscores the vulnerability of African carriers to global supply chain disruptions. Kenya Airways had been on a path to recovery after years of losses, but the unexpected grounding has highlighted the need to expand its fleet and diversify suppliers. Kilavuka said long‑term plans call for the airline to grow its fleet to at least 50 aircraft, but ordering new planes can take up to seven years due to manufacturing backlogs.

Industry analysts warn that if the parts shortage persists, Kenya Airways may see its market share erode as passengers opt for carriers with more dependable schedules. Meanwhile, the airline continues to lobby the Kenyan government for financial support and policy reforms that would strengthen the aviation sector and attract maintenance facilities to the region, reducing future dependence on overseas suppliers.

As travellers endure cancellations, Kenya Airways has apologised for the inconvenience and urged customers to rebook or seek refunds where necessary. The carrier remains confident that the grounded planes will return to service once parts arrive, but acknowledges that the disruption has tested its resilience during a critical period.