Kenya Airways (KQ) has achieved a major milestone after receiving the highly sought-after EASA Part-145 Certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
This accreditation allows KQ to expand its Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services to include European-registered aircraft—an achievement attained by only a few airlines in the region.
With this certification, Kenya Airways is now authorized to conduct both heavy and light maintenance, repairs, and overhauls on certified components for European-registered aircraft and other jurisdictions. The global recognition ensures that aircraft components serviced by KQ can be installed on planes worldwide.
The certification grants KQ the following approvals:
- 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.
- Aircraft Component Maintenance in the C14 category.
- Special Services in category D1 for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT).
As part of this milestone, Kenya Airways successfully operated its first flight with a fully EASA-certified crew on September 13, 2024. Flight KQ554, from Nairobi to Kinshasa, was manned by a team of 71 staff members who underwent specialized training to earn the EASA Attestation Certificate, affirming their expertise in safety and service on European-registered aircraft.
Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka described the certification as a transformative step for the airline’s MRO services.
“Today, we take a bold step forward in transforming Kenya Airways into a leading Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul provider in Africa and beyond,” Kilavuka stated.
He further noted that the certification would open new business opportunities, enabling KQ to secure maintenance contracts from European operators and establish itself as a premier MRO provider in Africa.
The journey toward accreditation began on November 21, 2022, with a strategic goal to develop a globally recognized and sustainable maintenance organization. The process involved addressing 415 compliance actions, including facility upgrades, staff recruitment, procedural enhancements, and equipment acquisitions.
Through cross-functional collaboration and dedicated leadership, Kenya Airways successfully aligned with EASA standards within nine months and officially applied for approval in January 2024.
