Brazil-based global major aerospace group Embraer has announced that it has signed a service support agreement with Kenya Airways. The agreement sees the East African carrier joining the Embraer Collaborative Inventory Planning (ECIP) programme.

Kenya Airways operates 13 Embraer E190 smaller single-aisle airliners (the rest of its fleet is composed of Boeing types). The ECIP programme will allow it to optimise its parts inventory and cut operational costs.

“Embraer is honoured by Kenya Airways’ trust on [sic] the Collaborative Inventory Planning management system,” highlighted Embraer Services & Support president and CEO Carlos Naufel. “We are ready to support the airline to keep its E-Jets fleet ready to fly, matching excellent performance and low operational costs. Our solution will provide Kenya Airways access to Embraer’s global logistics network and deepen the partnership between our companies.”

ECIP provides a number of advantages to its participants. The first of these is that most of the investment in inventory is made by Embraer. This significantly reduces the level of inventory investment required by the participating airlines. Further, the price of each and every part is fixed on an annual basis, allowing a more precise balancing of costs by the customers, while performance levels are guaranteed by Embraer Services & Support. And all ECIP participants can rely on the airframer’s materials management expertise, allowing their spare parts management to be flexible and customised.

The operation of ECIP is data-driven. An ordering recommendation is sent out every week, based on each airline’s usage and stock level data. This data is created using advanced software and Embraer Planning expertise, shared collaboratively.

Kenya Airways has operated Embraer aircraft since 2006. It flies to 45 destinations around the world, 37 of them in Africa (including Johannesburg and Cape Town).    

Embraer was founded in 1969 and is active in commercial, executive and agricultural aviation and in defence and security (including but not restricted to military aviation) as well as in services and support to its customers. To date, it has delivered more than 9 000 aircraft. Currently, Embraer aircraft transport more than 150-million passengers a year.