NAIROBI, Kenya—Kenya Airways has cancelled and rescheduled some flights after delays at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) stretched beyond six hours as an ongoing industrial action by aviation workers entered its second day.
The national carrier said Monday that a growing flight backlog caused by disruption to Air Traffic Control (ATC) services had significantly affected operations at the country’s main international gateway.
In a customer update, Kenya Airways advised passengers not to travel to JKIA unless they had received confirmation that their flights were operating, warning that the situation had resulted in lengthy delays and changes to scheduled services.
The airline said its teams were working with relevant aviation stakeholders to manage the backlog and minimise the impact on travellers, while prioritising the safety of passengers and crew.
“Passengers can also update their contact details through the airline’s Manage Booking platform to receive the latest travel notifications,” the carrier said.
Customers affected by the disruption have been allowed to change or reschedule their flights without penalty, according to the airline.
The latest disruption follows widespread delays reported at JKIA and other Kenyan airports on Sunday after aviation workers resumed industrial action.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed that some departing flights were experiencing delays at its airports and advised travellers to confirm their flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) said its members at the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), KAA and Jambojet had downed their tools over unresolved labour grievances, including concerns over collective bargaining agreements, salaries, job security, prolonged contracts and career progression.
The industrial action came barely a month after a government-brokered framework had temporarily suspended an earlier strike threat in the aviation sector. KAWU has maintained that some of the issues that led to the previous dispute remain unresolved.
On Sunday, passengers were left stranded at JKIA as flights remained on the ground for hours, while the disruption also affected operations at other airports, including Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
The latest developments have raised fresh concerns for travellers using JKIA, Kenya’s main aviation hub, with delays potentially affecting connecting flights and schedules beyond Nairobi.
Negotiations between the government and aviation workers were expected to continue on Monday, although the industrial action remained in effect as the talks proceeded.
