The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has issued a public statement after departing flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were disrupted by an ongoing labour dispute between the Kenya Aviation Workers Union and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
In a public statement dated February 16, 2026, KAA confirmed that several outbound flights were facing delays and asked passengers to contact their respective airlines for updated schedules.
The authority said contingency plans had been activated to keep the airport running as staff and agencies responded to the situation.
KQ Issues Update on JKIA Departures
Kenya Airways (KQ) has also issued a customer update on February 16, citing air traffic control operational delays at JKIA affecting certain departures and arrivals.
“We wish to inform our customers that, following the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority’s statement on the implementation of contingency measures to safeguard aviation safety and service continuity on 16th February 2026, we are currently experiencing air traffic control operational delays at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), affecting certain departures and arrivals,” read part of the statement by KQ.
The airline linked the disruption to KCAA’s implementation of contingency measures to safeguard aviation safety and service continuity on February 16, 2026.
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KQ asked passengers to expect schedule adjustments, including delays, and said it was working with aviation authorities and stakeholders to minimise disruption and maintain safe operations.
“Passengers are advised to expect possible schedule adjustments, including delays. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and are working closely with the relevant aviation authorities and airport stakeholders to minimise disruption and maintain safe operations,” KQ stated.
KQ Advisory to Passengers
In its update, Kenya Airways advised customers to confirm their flight status before travelling to the airport.
The airline asked passengers to monitor official KQ channels, including the mobile app, website, and social media pages, for real‑time updates on departures and rebooking options.
KQ urged travellers without confirmed flight status to avoid proceeding to the airport.
The airline said its Customer Excellence team was available through phone, WhatsApp, and X for passengers seeking clarification or assistance with their bookings.
“Passengers are advised not to proceed to the airport without a confirmed flight status. The safety, security and comfort of our customers and staff remain our highest priority. We appreciate your patience and understanding as the situation evolves,” KQ stated.
The airline emphasised that the safety, security, and comfort of passengers and staff remain a top priority as it coordinates with aviation authorities to restore normal operations.
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KQ added that it would continue sharing updates through official channels as new information becomes available.
KCAA Clash with Kenya Aviation Workers Union
The dispute at the heart of the JKIA disruption stems from long‑running grievances raised by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union against the KCAA.
Workers say several Collective Bargaining Agreements dating back to 2015 have remained unimplemented, leaving staff without the salary reviews they were promised more than a decade ago.
Many employees have gone between 11 and 15 years without any adjustments to their pay, a frustration the union says has worsened under rising living costs.
There are also complaints of unequal treatment of contract workers, with the union accusing KCAA of maintaining unfair disparities in pay and benefits across different categories of staff.
The union further cites delays in remitting union dues and warns that members are prepared to take industrial action.
KCAA has been pushing back through legal channels, arguing that any strike would pose a risk to aviation safety and disrupt essential operations.
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