NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 11 – Kenya’s aviation sector is gradually arising from the damaging blow inflicted by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Capt. Gilbert Kibe, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Director General, has reported the average daily aircraft movements at about 550 from 1,045 before COVID-19 outbreak.
The 550 reported daily average aircraft movement recorded comprise of 110 international aircraft and 440 domestic flights.
The traffic however reflects a significant improvement with Kenya and the global aviation sector having been affected at an exponential pace, with passenger traffic in July 2020 recording a decline of 94 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2019 due to the pandemic.
Aircraft traffic movements was lowest in July 2020, standing at 9,185, which decreased by 68 per cent below the levels of July 2019 (28,825).
“Macroeconomic data on recent estimates of demand shocks shows that traffic forecast will return to 2019 levels in 2024 at low growth rate of 3.6 per cent compared to 4.2 per cent before COVID-19,” said the KCAA Director General.
This is based on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Global forecast.
KCAA added that “international lags are envisaged up to 2023 based on income reduction for leisure travel and countries restrictions to travel.”
However, on the local front, domestic traffic growth is expected to resume to normal in 2022 based on the level of vaccination in the country.
This estimate assumes that there will be no unforeseen challenges that may be posed by new variants of the coronavirus, such as new vicious strains of the Delta variant.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, KCAA instituted several measures to support the aviation sector absorb virus-triggered shocks.
For instance, the Authority offered exemptions and dispensations where full compliance with applicable aviation requirements were not possible, of course without compromising aviation safety and security.
Staring March 31, 2020, expiry periods for Air Operation Certificates (AOCs) were extended for a period of six months, and thereafter, extensions were given on a case-by-case basis until it became possible to resume on-site Inspections.
Similarly, Designate Check Pilots (DCPs) renewals, Flight Simulator Training Device (FSTD) renewals, and Various Regulatory Trainings and Checks recurrent approvals were extended for periods determined on a case-by-case basis.
This would be informed by the submitted Risk Analysis & Alternative means of compliance proposed by the Operator.
Another measure taken was to waive Fees and Charges for services rendered for the period of exemption/dispensation. According to Capt Kibe, since the resumption of Air Travel, Flight Operations department (FOPs) resumed scaled down on-site inspections and Oversight activities, which were undertaken on a case-by-case basis.
Physical interactions were limited and virtual means were encouraged. This has worked well to spur the industry that was in limbo.
Another notable achievement was the re-purposing of the Kenya Airways Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) cabin from carrying Passengers to carrying Cargo, that was supervised and approved by KCAA. This aircraft conversion was a “first” in the world.
