National Carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has issued a statement over flight delays experienced at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following a strike by airport workers.
KQ in a statement on September 11, 2024, confirmed the delays and warned of possible cancellations.
“Kenya Airways would like to alert you that due to the action by some JKIA staff, this has resulted in some delays and possible cancellations of some of our flights for both departing and arriving passengers,” read the statement.
“We continue to observe the situation and will update you on the affected flights.”
Jambojet has also issued a statement on the delays noting that all its flights scheduled to land and takeoff from the airport have been held until further notice.
“Jambojet wishes to notify guests of flight disruptions due to the ongoing strike by airport workers. We therefore recommend that you hold your journey to the airport until we publish the new schedule,” read the statement.
“We apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience and understanding.”
The statements come as Kenya’s largest airport JKIA, suffers a disruption following the launch of a go-slow strike by Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) staff at the airport over the proposed airport takeover by Indian firm Adani Group Holdings.
The workers launched the strike midnight on Wednesday against the proposed leasing of JKIA to Adani through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
Kenya Airways flights affected after strike at JKIA
Activities at the busy airport such as flight departures and arrivals were heavily disrupted when workers downed their tools, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded with no one to attend to them.
Also Read: JKIA Strike: Passengers Stranded as Protest Begins
Videos seen by The Kenya Times showed long queues of travelers visibly looking stranded after workers decided to go the hard way.
Others indicated that planes that were scheduled to land or leave the airport suffered delays as even air traffic controllers joined in the strike.
A fact-check by The Kenya Times established that several flights suffered delays and others cancelled following the strike.
According to Flightradar24, two Kenya Airways flights scheduled to arrive on Wednesday had been cancelled.
One KQ flight scheduled to land at 5:00 am and two at 5:25 have a cancelled status meaning that they did not land at the airport. The flights were from Zanzibar, and Victoria.
Also Read: Online Petition Seeking 10 million Signatures Launched to Stop JKIA-Adani Takeover
The flight from Dar es Salaam has a delayed status. By the time of publishing, ten flights had since landed since 5:40 am, with 9 being KQ.
KAWU notice
The strike follows a notice issued by KAWU on August 12, 2024, in which they opposed the proposed leasing of JKIA to Indian conglomerate Adani Group.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema, in the strike notice, cited fears that the JKIA-Adani deal would lead to mass layoffs, the introduction of foreign workers, as well as inferior working conditions.
The aviation workers also called for the resignation of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Board of Directors and three senior managers, accusing them of incompetence and mishandling the deal.
They further demanded the resignation of two Kenya Airways security managers citing gross misconduct, including allegations of human trafficking, sexual harassment, and unfair promotions within the department.
Despite the union’s demands, there has been no significant response from KAA or Kenya Airways. As a result, Tuesday night’s industrial action has led to disrupted flight schedules, with many passengers stranded at the airport.
KAWU has stated that they will only reconsider the strike if the proposed sale of JKIA is fully abandoned, and if the KAA board and managers, as well as the two KQ managers, resign as demanded.
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