Page 34 - World Airnews Magazine April 2020 Edition

HISTORICAL AFRICA

OWN YOUR OWN KQ COUNTS THE COST

RAAF PLANE

ilitary aircraft buffs have the

Mchance to own their piece of
Australian aviation history, with the auc-

tion of former RAAF planes and equipment.
Bids will start from only (US) $1 for the
demilitarised planes, gliders, helicopter
fuselage and thousands of spare parts.
Auction headliners include 18 Pilatus PC-9/A

aircraft, a popular RAAF training model flown by

trainee Australian military pilots for 30 years.

The propeller-driven aircraft were flown by

the RAAF's aerobatics display team, The Rou-
lettes, between 1989 and 2019 and became a

well-known attraction at public air shows. One of the RAAF Pilatus PC-9/A trainer aircraft that

will go under the hammer. (Supplied)
Also going under the hammer are four
Schleicher ASK 21 Mi Gliders. The agile

engineless aircraft are perfect for beginner iconic Black Hawk utility helicopter. to its rugged design and ability to fly in all

pilots due to their steerable nose wheel The Sikorsky-designed chopper is the weather conditions including night time.

and gentle flight. frontline tactical helicopter for the Austra- It has flown on combat missions with the ADF

Another highlight is the fuselage of the lian Army and other world militaries due in theatres including Afghanistan and Iraq. Q
regards to the corona virus,” he said. NATIONALISATION
Meanwhile Kenya’s law makers have

ENGINES enya Airways (KQ) has lost (US) $8 FALLING STOCK approved the nationalisation of KQ to

Kmillion in revenue in about one KQ’s stock on the NSE has fallen by 1.29 per save the airline that has been run down by

month since it suspended flights to China cent over the past month to trade as low as mismanagement and mounting debts.
Ksh2.29 ($0.022) per share.
The government has adopted a plan to buy
MTU MAINTENANCE OPENS as a precaution against the deadly corona In the past seven years, the share price out KQ's minority shareholders and convert

virus outbreak.
The losses on the Nairobi-Guangzhou has dropped by over 75 per cent from a shares held by commercial banks into debt.
high of Ksh9.40 ($0.094) in 2013.
Under the plan, the government will also
OFFICE IN AEROSPACE HUB DUBAI route include foregone passenger and KQ, which is set to be delisted from the create a special purpose vehicle - Aviation

cargo revenue.

Acting chief executive Allan Kilavuka has Nairobi Securities Exchange after parlia- Holding Company (AHC) - to manage Ken-

said that China is a key cargo origin as well ment approved its takeover by the state, ya’s aviation sector.
as a main feeder to the regional freighters, widened its losses for the year 2018 to The AHC will have four subsidiaries -

and the suspension of flights since the Ksh7.5 billion ($75 million) from Ksh6.4 Kenya Airways, Kenya Airports Authority,
TU Maintenance, a leader end of January has dealt a big blow to the billion ($64 million) in 2017. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and a

Min customised soluti ons for airline’s revenues. Its net loss for the six months’ period to June centralised Aviation Services College, which

aero engines, has announced that it has “We are looking at lost revenue of about 30, 2019 more than doubled to Ksh8.5 billion will be run independently.

opened an office in close vicinity to the (US) $8 million, both passenger and cargo. ($85 million) from Ksh4 billion ($40 million) in KQ is 48.9 per cent owned by the govern-
Dubai International Airport. However, various initiatives are in place to in- the same period the previous year (2018). ment, and a group of 11 local banks which

While MTU has always been present in crease passenger and cargo revenues on other Globally, the International Air Transport own 38.1 per cent of the shares.

the region, the company is proud to have routes to minimise this impact,” said Kilavuka. Association (IATA) forecast the aviation Other shareholders include KLM Royal Dutch
made this move to be even closer to its The corona virus has so far infected more than industry will lose (US) $29 billion worth of Airline (7.8 per cent), employees (2.4 per cent)
customers. It is part of its global growth 75,000 people globally and killed over 2,200*. passenger revenues this year, of which (US) and other shareholders at 2.8 per cent.
strategy and enables immediate proximity (*figures accurate at the time of going to $40 million will be from African airlines. The airline is facing threats from competi-

to the commercial engine maintenance press) According to IATA, carriers outside the tors such as Ethiopian Airlines, Rwandair,

and leasing scene in the region – and in He said that KQ switched the aircraft that Asia-Pacific are forecast to lose (US) $1.5 Emirates, Qatar and Etihad, all which are

turn, to meet their needs better and faster. operated the route to China, to Dubai, from billion, assuming the loss of demand is fully state-owned and subsidised, and have

This opening follows on from the re- February 11, and changed the timing of the limited to markets linked to China. engaged in aggressive growth strategies

cently opened MTU Maintenance Lease “And it is a clear signal as to the impor- service, for example with sale and lease Bangkok flight from a midnight departure Global traffic is forecast to drop, causing focused on volume and market share.

Services office in Singapore and Dublin. tance of the Middle Eastern region for MTU.” back, reliable MRO performance, right to early morning as a way of maintaining the first overall decline in demand since the KQ’s former chief executive Sebastian Miko-

“Some of our largest customers are “We have over 20 customers in the up to the migration or exit of such fleets, operational efficiency and minimising dis- Global Financial crisis of 2008-2009. sz quit in mid-December after he declined to

based in Middle East. This move is a region. MTU tailors excellent solutions for both within and beyond the region.” ruption to passengers. “This will be a very tough year for extend his three-year contract, which expired

deliberate step in our global growth a variety of engine types including for the MTU Maintenance has also seen “Due to our additional precautionary airlines,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s on December 31, citing personal reasons.

strategy to strengthen our customer re- GE90, the world’s largest turbofan,” said strong demand for narrowbody services measures we have faced some delays in director general and chief executive. In July last year, chief operating officer

lationships and be on hand to most flex- Sami Ben-Kraiem, vice president marketing in the Middle East and is experiencing operations. We are working closely with “It is clear the airlines are struggling. Our Jan De Vegt resigned after serving for three

ibly respond to their needs,” said Martin and sales, Middle East & Southeast Asia. an increase in CFM56 and V2500 shop the port health teams from the Ministry initial analysis suggests that we are facing years, and chief financial officer Hellen

Friis-Petersen, senior vice president “We support our customers with these visits from the region to its facilities in of Health as guided by the World Health a 4.7 per cent hit on global demand. That Mathuka was suspended in September. Q
MRO programmes, MTU Aero Engines. high value engines from their entry into Hannover and Zhuhai. Q Organisation who continue to monitor could more than eliminate the 4.1 per cent Article courtesy https://www.thecitizen.

and advice on the next steps to take with growth we forecast for 2020 in December.” co.tz/
World Airnews | April 2020 World Airnews | April 2020
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