NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – Kenya Airways (KQ) has received the prestigious European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part-145 Certification, allowing it to expand its Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services to European-registered aircraft.
This milestone positions KQ among a select few regional airlines authorized to service aircraft from European jurisdictions, strengthening its reputation as a leading MRO provider in Africa.
KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka emphasized that the accreditation unlocks new business opportunities, enabling the airline to attract maintenance contracts from European operators.
“The EASA certification strategically positions KQ as the go-to MRO organization in Africa, allowing us to perform maintenance, repairs, and overhauls on European-registered aircraft and components,” Kilavuka said.
The certification covers Base Maintenance for Embraer E190 and Boeing 737-700/800/900 aircraft, Line Maintenance for Boeing 787-8, Embraer E190, and Boeing 737-700/800/900 models, and Aircraft Component Maintenance in the C14 category. It also includes Special Services in category D1 for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT).
Kenya Airways achieved a key milestone in its accreditation journey on September 13, 2024, when it operated its first flight, KQ554, with a fully EASA-accredited crew from Nairobi to Kinshasa. A total of 71 staff members completed specialized training to earn the EASA Attestation Certificate.
The airline’s pursuit of EASA approval began in November 2022 and involved aligning with 415 compliance requirements, including facility upgrades, staff training, and equipment acquisitions.
KQ’s Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) plans to further expand its certification scope in component repair and overhaul services, reinforcing its commitment to global aviation standards.
