This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
Kenya Airways has taken a significant step to reduce its fuel bill by partnering with GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric. The deal, announced on July 3, 2019, will provide the airline with real-time digital data on its fleet performance, enabling it to implement and track fuel-saving initiatives across its network.
The partnership comes at a time when fuel costs have been a major challenge for the airline. According to Kenya Airways' 2018 annual report, fuel accounts for about 27 percent of its expenditure.
GE Aviation's chief digital officer, John Mansfield, said the company's aim is to help Kenya Airways reduce its multimillion-dollar fuel bill and increase overall efficiency. 'Our flight analytics, together with the team's experience from analysing more than 175 million flights, will enable Kenya Airways to better manage operations with data-driven solutions,' he said.
Kenya Airways' director of operations, Paul Njoroge, said the partnership will empower the carrier to optimise its fuel costs and excel in flight operations. 'The partnership with GE Aviation will enable Kenya Airways to optimise its fuel costs and excel in flight operations. GE brings a wealth of knowledge to help the airline fast track efficiencies enabling improvements in operations and customer experience,' he said.
The airline's fleet of 41 planes, which includes Boeing 737, 787 series, and Embraer E190 airplanes, will be equipped with GE's flight operations software. The software provides flight analytics services integrating data sources like flight information, weather, navigation, flight plans, and other operational data to provide insights for airlines around fuel use and operations.
