Flight operations at major Kenyan airports were disrupted on Sunday after Kenya Airports Authority staff and air traffic controllers staged a go-slow, leaving passengers stranded and causing delays.
The workers are demanding improved welfare, better working conditions, and the implementation of previously agreed employment benefits.
The strike has caused significant delays, including missed connections and cancelled travel plans, particularly for passengers with international connections.
The workers have been pushing for better remuneration and working conditions since 2015, with no salary review since then.
The strike will continue until their demands are met and disciplinary decisions made over the past two years are reviewed.
Kenya Aviation Workers Union Secretary General Moss Ndiema, speaking to the media, said the dispute stems from the failure to implement a previous Collective Bargaining Agreement by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
“Since 2015, 1st of July. KCA staff have never had a salary review or a salary increment. Now SRC is coming in and saying that there is no money to implement the CBAs in arrears,” Ndiema said.
“Instead, let us begin from the current period, which starts from 2023. We are saying no.”
Ndiema said the workers will not resume duty until several conditions are met.
“There will be no return-to-work formula, one, without a recognition agreement between KAWU and Jambojet, and two, with a condition that all disciplinary decisions that have been made for the last two years have to be reviewed,” he said.
Earlier on Sunday, several airlines issued updates to passengers on flight disruptions.
Kenya Airways announced 2–3 hour departure delays for flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), citing ongoing air traffic control challenges.
In a customer update issued on Sunday, the national carrier apologised for the disruption and said its teams were working with aviation authorities and relevant airport stakeholders to minimise the impact on travellers.
“We are currently experiencing delays of 2-3 hours for departures out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) due to ongoing air traffic control challenges,” Kenya Airways said.
The airline did not indicate how long the delays were expected to last, saying the situation was still developing.
This follows an earlier announcement by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) that some departing flights at its airports were experiencing delays.
“Kenya Airports Authority PLC wishes to advise passengers and other airport users that some departing flights are currently experiencing delays at our airports,” KAA said in a statement on Sunday.