The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has warned passengers of flight delays affecting some departing flights at airports across the country.
In a passenger advisory issued on Sunday, August 30, KAA said it was working with aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders to address the situation and minimize disruptions to airport operations.
The authority advised travelers to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates on flight schedules before heading to the airport.
KAA said efforts were underway to facilitate the smooth flow of airport operations as officials seek to manage the delays.
“KAA is working closely with the relevant aviation agencies, airlines, and other stakeholders to manage the situation, minimise disruption, and facilitate the smooth flow of airport operations,” KAA stated.
Passengers were also urged to plan their journeys accordingly to avoid inconvenience.
KAA, Kenya Airways Issue Travel Advisory
The airport operator apologised for the disruption and thanked passengers and other airport users for their patience as the situation is being addressed.
KAA did not disclose the cause of the delays but said further updates would be provided as developments unfold.
The advisory was issued by the authority’s Corporate Communications and Public Affairs department.
Meanwhile, Kenya Airways said flights departing from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were experiencing delays of between two and three hours due to ongoing air traffic control challenges.
In a customer update issued on Sunday, the airline apologised to passengers for the disruption and said it was working with aviation authorities and airport stakeholders to minimise the inconvenience.
“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,” the airline said.
Kenya Airways advised affected passengers to contact its customer service channels for updates on their travel plans.
Kenya’s aviation sector is facing growing pressure from congested airport infrastructure, grounded aircraft, rising fuel costs and labour disputes, with the strain most visible at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Kenya Airways.
JKIA is already handling more passengers than it was designed for, while the national carrier is struggling to turn rising revenue into profit amid fleet shortages and expensive operations.
The current disruptions come as the government implements a long-term modernization programme at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport aimed at addressing congestion and increasing capacity.
The project includes the construction of a new passenger terminal, rehabilitation of existing airport facilities, expansion of terminal processing areas, upgrades to taxiways and digital systems, and the construction of a new parallel runway.
Government projections show the upgrade will increase JKIA’s passenger handling capacity from 7.5 million to 22 million passengers annually.
The modernization programme is valued at Sh154.2 billion and forms part of a 20-year master plan for Kenya’s main aviation gateway.
Kenya Airways has said the disruptions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) are more severe than initially reported, with only 30 per cent of its scheduled flights having departed by 2 p.m. on Sunday.
In a customer update, the airline said the delays were linked to ongoing air traffic control challenges, adding that passengers were still experiencing departure delays of more than three hours.
“As at 14:00Hrs EAT, 30% of our scheduled flights for today have departed with an average delay of 2-3 hrs. We are still experiencing departure delays of over 3 hours,” the airline said.
Kenya Airways said it was proactively contacting affected passengers to inform them of schedule changes and urged customers to update their contact details through the airline’s website or mobile application to receive the latest travel information.
The airline added that it was working with airport stakeholders to ensure safe operations and minimise disruptions, while reiterating that the safety of passengers and crew remained its top priority.
Jambojet Reports Flight Disruptions
Budget airline Jambojet has also warned passengers of delays, citing operational constraints at airports.
In a passenger advisory issued on August 30, the airline said it was experiencing flight disruptions due to airport operational constraints and was closely monitoring the situation with relevant stakeholders.
“Our team is actively monitoring the situation and working closely with the relevant stakeholders on any developments to minimize disruption to our schedule,” the airline said.
Jambojet said further updates would be shared through its social media platforms and directly with affected passengers.
The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused.
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