Air traffic operations at Kenya’s main airport are returning to normal after the Kenya Aviation Workers Union signed a return-to-work formula, ending a strike by Air Traffic Control staff that had disrupted departures and arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Kenya Airports Authority said the signing “officially” marks the conclusion of the ATC staff strike that had affected flights at the country’s busiest airport. The industrial action, which began on February 9, 2026, had caused delays and uncertainty for travellers.
The union also confirmed the decision to call off the strike in a post on its X account. “The industrial action previously called on 9 February 2026 has now been officially called off,” KAWU said in a post.
According to KAA, the breakthrough followed a “successful mediation meeting” convened by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir. The talks brought together officials from the Ministry of Labour, KAA, the union, and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
“KAA commends all parties for their constructive engagement,” the authority said, adding that operations are now “normalizing across all the airports.”
Travellers have been urged to reach out to their respective airlines for updated flight details as schedules are adjusted. The authority said it remains committed to “safety and operational excellence across all airports.”
Jambojet confirmed that its flights are resuming, stating that services are “progressively being restored.” The airline said revised schedules will be communicated through SMS, email, and social media, and encouraged passengers to contact customer support for rebooking or further assistance.
The dispute traces back to a seven-day strike notice issued by the union on February 9, 2026 to the aviation regulator. In a letter addressed to KCAA Director General Emile N. Arao, the union indicated that unionisable staff would withdraw their labour if longstanding grievances were not addressed.
Central to the dispute was the failure to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement since 2015, which the union said had left workers’ terms “unreviewed and stagnant for over ten years.”
The union further accused KCAA of refusing to deduct union dues for some members, arguing that the move contravenes the Labour Relations Act and infringes on workers’ constitutional right to join a union.
Additional concerns raised included the continued engagement of contract staff in positions the union considers permanent, alleged job downgrades and salary cuts under new human resource structures, and failure to comply with a court directive requiring the renewal of Flight Operations Inspector Vivian Ongwae’s contract.
With the signing of the return-to-work formula, the standoff that had slowed operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has now been resolved, offering relief to passengers and airlines that had been affected by the disruption.
