Kenya Airways (KQ) on Monday, April 29 announced the suspension of flights to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the airline the suspension came as a result of the continued detention of two of their employees by the Military Intelligence unit in DRC’s capital.
Consequently, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KQ Allan Kilavuka issued a statement on April 29, declaring that the suspension would take effect on April 30, 2024.
“Due to the continued detention of KQ employees by the Military Intelligence Unit in Kinshasa, Kenya Airways (KQ) is unable to support our flights without personnel effectively. As a result, we reached a difficult decision to suspend flights to Kinshasa effective 30th April 2024 until we can effectively support these flights,” the statement read in part.
The CEO pointed out that the continued detention of their employees posed challenges in overseeing various operations in Kinshasa, including customer service, ground handling, cargo activities, and ensuring overall safety, secure, and efficient operations.
He also urged that the airline staff be accorded humane and respectful treatment during the unlawful detention.
Kilavuka extended further apologies to the customers for any inconvenience caused by the situation, emphasizing that their security, well-being, and that of the staff remained a top priority.
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Affected customers have been advised to contact the customer excellence team at +254 711 024 747, WhatsApp at +254 705 474 747, or email customer.relations@kenya-airways.com.
Furthermore, the airline has assured its continued cooperation with the investigating agencies and the relevant Government entities in both DRC and Kenya to ensure this matter is resolved.
“We ask that the Military court’s direction that they be released to allow due process to be respected so that our innocent staff can return to their families and everyday lives without harassment,” the airline urged.
Also Read: Govt Responds to Detention of Kenya Airways Employees by DRC Military
Kenya Airways Staff Detained In Congo
The staff stationed at the KQ office in Kinshasa have been in detention since Friday, April 19, following their apprehension by the Military Intelligence Unit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
It is reported that the two individuals were arrested based on accusations of a missing customs documentation related to valuable cargo scheduled for transport on a KQ flight on April 12th, 2024.
Currently, it is known that the two individuals are detained in the unit referred to as Detection Militaire des Activities Anti Patrie (DEMIAP).
Moreover, their phones have reportedly been confiscated, and all access to them has been denied.
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