(NAIROBI, KENYA) – Flight disruptions continued at Kenya’s major airports on Tuesday as airlines worked to clear a backlog created by a two day strike by aviation workers that brought operations to a near standstill.
The strike began on Sunday and was called off on Tuesday morning. It forced airlines to cancel and delay flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
Major carriers in Kenya, including Kenya Airways and Jambojet, said they expected normal flight schedules to resume on Wednesday as they continued to deal with the effects of the industrial action. Foreign carriers operating flights to and from Nairobi also faced disruptions, with airlines such as Etihad postponing some scheduled flights on Tuesday as they worked to clear the backlog from Sunday and Monday.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) called off the strike after reaching a return to work agreement with the government, Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and Jambojet.
The agreement commits KAWU and KCAA to resume negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement, while salary discussions will be handled within the ambit of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. It also provides for the release of agency fees owed to the union and protection of workers who participated in the strike from victimisation or disciplinary action.
KAWU had cited unresolved labour issues, including a stalled collective bargaining agreement, disputes over union agency fees, and its recognition dispute with Jambojet. The union also raised concerns over workers’ welfare and employment conditions.
The strike affected JKIA, Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Eldoret International Airport and Kisumu International Airport. The disruption was particularly severe at JKIA, which serves as Kenya’s main international aviation hub.
Kenya Airways, which uses JKIA as its hub, said it continued to experience delays on Tuesday following the suspension of the strike.
“Customers should expect some delays as our teams restore flight schedules. We anticipate resuming our normal scheduled operations by Wednesday,” Kenya Airways said in a statement.
Jambojet also said it expected to resume its full schedule on Wednesday after operating most of its flights on Tuesday, albeit with some delays as priority was given to earlier bookings.
“Our immediate priority is to support passengers whose travel plans were affected, while ensuring that all flights operate safely,” Jambojet CEO Karanja Ndegwa said.
The airlines are rearranging their schedules to clear the flight backlog, with some destinations receiving higher frequencies than normal and others being served using larger aircraft.
“We are also adjusting our schedules and operational resources to accelerate the recovery and restore the network to normal by Wednesday 2nd. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide guests with timely updates on their flights,” Mr Ndegwa added.
The latest disruption was the second major aviation workers’ strike in Kenya this year, pointing to persistent labour tensions in a sector that serves as a critical gateway for regional and international travel. The February strike also disrupted operations at JKIA and other airports before workers returned to their stations following government mediated talks.