Passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the air traffic control workers’ strike can change or rebook their Jambojet flights without paying extra charges as the airline moves to restore normal operations.
Jambojet said it resumed normal flight operations on Tuesday after the strike was lifted, but warned that some travellers could still face delays as the airline works through the backlog left by the disruption.
In a customer update issued Tuesday morning, the airline said passengers with affected travel plans could adjust their bookings at no additional cost.
“For guests with existing travel plans, we understand that the disruption may have affected your plans. If you need to change or rebook your flight, you may do so at no additional cost,” the airline said in an update issued on Tuesday morning.
Passengers who want to change their travel arrangements have been advised to contact Jambojet’s customer support team by email to find out the available options.
The airline said travellers affected by the disruption would also receive updates specific to their flights through SMS.
Further updates on the resumption of services will be shared through Jambojet’s official social media platforms, the airline said.
“Our teams are on hand across our operations to assist guests and ensure a smooth return to normal service,” Jambojet said.
The airline’s return to normal operations follows the lifting of the aviation workers’ strike after the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) reached a return-to-work agreement with the government following overnight talks.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema directed striking workers to return to duty and work with airport management to restore services and deal with the backlog caused by the industrial action.
“Even though we have got everything as we wanted, we have made compromises that we believe will be in the benefit of our members and the country,” Ndiema said.
Ndiema also apologised to passengers who were affected by the strike, which disrupted flight operations at Kenyan airports.
“We want to apologize to travellers, all those who have been inconvenienced,” he said.
He said workers would immediately begin efforts to bring airport operations back to normal once the agreement was signed.
One of the key agreements reached during the talks was for KAWU and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to resume negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“The key thing that we have achieved is that we will be beginning collective bargaining negotiations with KCAA in a matter of a day or two,” Ndiema said.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the return-to-work agreement dealt with several issues raised by the union, including agency fees, outstanding Collective Bargaining Agreements and matters concerning the Kenya Airports Authority and Jambojet.
He said the government had also agreed that guidelines issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission would be used to guide negotiations on three outstanding CBAs.
“We should be able to accordingly address those concerns and ensure that the staff, particularly of KCAA, who did not have a collective bargaining agreement since 2015 are addressed accordingly,” Chirchir said.
The agreement also provides protection for workers who took part in the strike against victimisation, intimidation, discrimination or disciplinary action.
With aviation workers now back at their stations, airlines including Jambojet are expected to gradually restore their schedules while dealing with the backlog created during the strike.