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By Chinelo Obogo
Aviation experts who converged at the African MRO (Maintenance, Repair Organisation) Conference 2026 held recently in Addis Ababa and hosted by Ethiopian Airlines under the theme “Building Africa’s Sustainable MRO Ecosystem,” have said that African MRO capacity remains insufficient, particularly for engine maintenance and parts availability is the primary driver of aircraft downtime across the continent.
The conference brought together airline executives, government officials, regulators, manufacturers and maintenance providers from the continent and beyond. In a Special Edition Newsletter put together by the African Airlines Association, it pointed out how experts also agreed that logistics delays and customs procedures continue to increase operational costs and the absence of regional logistics hubs limits supply chain efficiency. They said that strengthening local maintenance capabilities is essential to enhancing the competitiveness of Africa’s aviation sector.
The opening panel had African MRO Landscape and Supply Chain Challenges as its topic and it gave an assessment of Africa’s maintenance ecosystem, highlighting how persistent structural constraints continue to affect aircraft availability, operating costs, and overall operational reliability across the continent.
The panel moderator was the Acting Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways (Technical), Moosa Desai. The panelists were Benson Kamau, Head of Technical Materials Management, Kenya Airways, Santiago Rodríguez, Head of Maintenance and Supply Chain, Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Deborah Luciyamoi, Materials Manager, Uganda Airlines and Oliver Graef, Vice President Sales and Asset Management, Lufthansa Technik Middle East
The panel agreed that maintenance capacity within Africa is limited, particularly in the area of engine maintenance which requires many African airlines to send critical components overseas for repair. This reliance on external facilities has resulted in high logistics costs, extended turnaround times, and increased aircraft downtime, with direct implications for flight scheduling and financial performance. Several of the panelists noted that maintenance turnaround times can extend over several months, placing pressure on network reliability and airline profitability.
Parts availability was identified as the single most critical operational challenge facing African carriers and according to the panelists, sourcing a required component can take several days and in some cases several weeks due to logistics bottlenecks, customs procedures, and the geographical distance from major production and distribution centers. The absence of major regional logistics hubs within Africa continues to slow supply chain responsiveness and increase operating costs.
The panelists also highlighted the impact of regulatory policies on maintenance efficiency. In some jurisdictions, taxes applied to aviation spare parts and complex administrative procedures prolong procurement timelines and add financial burden to airline operations. They called for greater regulatory harmonization across African states and the establishment of regional logistics and distribution centers capable of supporting airline operations more effectively.
The discussions showed the direct link between the performance of the MRO sector and the competitiveness of African airlines. Therefore, they all agreed that strengthening local maintenance capabilities, expanding industrial partnerships, and enhancing collaboration between public and private stakeholders should be prioritised to improve fleet availability and support the sustainable growth of air transport across Africa.
