At the inaugural African MRO Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Kenya Airways has presented sustainability as a practical operating priority, linking cleaner processes and technical efficiency to the continent’s wider effort to build a resilient aviation ecosystem.
The conference hosted by the Government of Ethiopia, brought together AFRAA and Africa’s founding MRO providers to address the theme of building a sustainable regional maintenance base. The event attracted more than 450 delegates from over 50 countries, including airline executives, regulators, and technology providers.
Kenya Airways Engineering & Maintenance used the platform to present its response to the sustainability challenge through a case study titled “Green Maintenance: Decarbonizing the African MRO Value Chain.”
The presentation outlined a comprehensive sustainability governance framework that integrates environmental priorities directly into maintenance operations. This roadmap includes a snapshot of impacts from 2025 and a 2026 flight path focused on scaling physical infrastructure, advancing digital maintenance tools, and achieving technical operational mastery.
George Kamal, Acting CEO of Kenya Airways, said the shift toward green maintenance is designed to make the African MRO sector more competitive and resilient.
“Currently, a large share of aircraft maintenance for African airlines is conducted outside the continent, a trend that drives annual capital outflows, increases operating costs, and extends aircraft downtime,” said Kamal.
By strengthening regional capability and improving supply chain resilience, Kamal said KQ’s MRO aims to demonstrate that sustainable practices are an essential part of the modern operating model required to keep African aviation competitive.
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Eric Mulati, KQ’s Lead of Technical Strategy, Risk & Compliance noted that the company is embedding sustainability into its core maintenance operations by aligning governance and shop-floor processes with long-term investment.
This approach is intended to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact while simultaneously strengthening Africa’s overall MRO capability.
“Kenya Airways Engineering & Maintenance is embedding sustainability into the heart of our operations. By aligning our governance and shop-floor processes with long-term investment, we are improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact while strengthening Africa’s MRO capability,” said Mulati.
Operating from its base in Nairobi, Kenya Airways Engineering & Maintenance is a key player in the regional landscape, offering base maintenance, line maintenance, and component support across multiple aircraft platforms.
It is an approved EASA Part-145 and KCAA-certified organization, and it remains the only Embraer Authorized Service Centre in the region. Its technical services include heavy airframe checks, avionics and mechanical component repair, and non-destructive testing.
By combining operational efficiency with a focus on safety and reliability, KQ MRO is advancing a model that supports regional E-Jet operators and reduces the continent’s reliance on off-continent maintenance providers.
