- Flight delays at Kenya's main international airport on Monday affected thousands of travellers as airport workers' go-slow strike action continued into its second day.
- The aviation workers’ strike began on Sunday, affecting airlines including Kenya Airways and its low-cost unit Jambojet.
- Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Kenya's main airport in Nairobi as flight disruptions continued for the second day amid the workers' strike.
- Delays exceeding six hours were reported by Kenya Airways due to the industrial action by air traffic control workers.
- RwandAir cancelled two flights on Sunday due to ongoing operational constraints affecting air traffic control services at the airport.
- Talks between unions and airport managers were due to take place on Monday, but discussions broke up a day earlier without agreement.
- The strike follows a two-day dispute in February over collective bargaining and the use of volunteers at the airport.
- Aviation sector workers are on a nationwide go-slow strike to demand better working conditions and the implementation of a previously agreed deal.
Flight delays at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have persisted for two days due to a go-slow strike by aviation workers demanding better working conditions. The strike has left hundreds of passengers stranded as airlines, including Kenya Airways and RwandAir, face significant disruptions.13
The Kenya Aviation Workers' Union (KAWU) initiated the strike over unresolved grievances, including the failure to finalize a collective bargaining agreement with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema stated that negotiations with government officials on Sunday were unsuccessful, prompting further discussions scheduled for Monday.
Passengers have reported extensive delays, with some waiting for over 12 hours for updates on their flights. Mendel Goldman, a traveler heading to a wedding in Florida, expressed frustration after his flight was canceled following multiple delays. He stated, "When I got here, the flight was delayed till 1 a.m. So it was an hour and a half delay, and then there was another delay till 4:30 a.m."
Kenya Airways has acknowledged delays exceeding six hours and has canceled some departures due to the strike. The airline has offered passengers the option to change or reschedule flights without penalty. Meanwhile, RwandAir has also canceled flights due to operational constraints at JKIA.
The ongoing strike highlights the challenges faced by the aviation sector in Kenya, which handled approximately nine million passengers last year, amid a backdrop of previous strikes advocating for improved working conditions.
“Kenya Airways reported delays exceeding six hours and cancelled some departures, while RwandAir cancelled two flights. Passengers like Mendel Goldman waited 12 hours, with the earliest rebooking only for the next night, as KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema said strike action remains on.”
BBC
