Janice R. Andrews
Kenya Airways (KQ) has suffered substantial financial losses of nearly KSh 10 billion between 2019 and 2024 due to bird strikes. These incidents, where birds collide with aircraft, pose a significant threat to aviation safety and profitability worldwide.
Bird strikes can cause severe damage to aircraft, especially during takeoff and landing. The cost of repairs can be astronomical, with a single engine blade replacement potentially costing up to KSh 259 million, and a new engine for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner reaching KSh 4 billion.
KQ experienced its worst year in 2020, with losses exceeding KSh 6 billion. The trend continued with losses of KSh 1.17 billion in 2023 and KSh 794 million in 2022. In 2024, KQ lost KSh 472 million to bird strikes, nearly equivalent to its profit for the first half of the year.
Factors contributing to bird strikes include:
- Proximity of dumpsites, landfills, and swamps to airports
- Natural features like lakes and wetlands attracting birds
- Geographical location on bird migration routes
Mitigation efforts face challenges, as physical removal of birds is considered inhumane. Instead, non-lethal methods are employed to chase birds away from runways. Kenya Airways has also launched sustainability initiatives to reduce costs and improve efficiency, including a water bottling plant and a pyro diesel plant.
The global aviation industry has lost over KSh 544 billion due to bird strikes, with countries like Saudi Arabia facing heightened risks due to their location on major bird migration paths.
Addressing this persistent issue remains crucial for airline profitability and safety, requiring ongoing innovation and collaboration between airlines, airport authorities, and wildlife protection agencies.
