East Africa’s maintenance capacity is shifting fast. In July, Ethiopian Airlines opened a major expansion of its MRO complex in Addis Ababa, adding a two-bay widebody hangar, a component repair workshop and a central warehouse in a project valued at more than $150 million. The carrier now counts eight hangars on site, with the build-out designed to handle more third-party work across the region.

That’s welcome news, but it also spotlights a tough reality: demand is rising even faster. AFRAA projects African airline traffic to grow from 98 million (2024) to 113 million (2025), a 15% jump that strains hangar slots, parts pipelines and skilled labour. Global MRO spend has already surpassed $114 billion (2024) and is forecast to reach $156 billion by 2035, a “super-cycle” driven by higher aircraft utilization, aging fleets and supply-chain friction. Engine shop turn times are at historic highs due to parts and labour shortages—delays that cascade into schedule cuts and missed revenue. 

What this means for Somali operators

Danan’s capacity fix: 3 moves you can make this quarter

1) A 48-hour Reliability & SMS Gap AuditWe baseline your fleet against Annex 19 expectations—hazard reporting, assurance, training logs, and corrective-action closeout—then deliver a prioritized punch list your quality manager can execute. This reduces audit findings before you request slots and improves your insurability.

2) Avionics uptime blitz on the usual culpritsWe tackle quick-win AOG drivers with on-ramp diagnostics and line-fit training: pitot-static leak checks, RVSM validations, transponder/TCAS tests, VOR/ILS, radio altimeters, EGPWS, and monthly nav-database updates—plus wiring inspections and mod packages that cut nuisance write-ups. (These are Danan’s core training and troubleshooting specialties.)

3) Parts and shop-time hedgingWe map the five LRUs most likely to ground your type this season and pre-position rotables or pooling options; where heavy work is unavoidable, we reserve windows with partner facilities while clearing documentation snags that extend turn time. (Engine shop TATs remain elevated—get in line early, with clean records.)

Why Danan?

A simple plan for the next 30 days

Book your consult at +1 613-798-6371 or .

Sponsored content produced in partnership with Danan Aviation Consulting Services. The views expressed are those of the sponsor.