A labor showdown at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport left flights in limbo on Monday, stranding hordes of passengers in a nightmare of delays and diversions. The walkout by aviation staff has exposed raw frustrations over stagnant wages and neglected agreements.
Rooted in a decade-old collective bargaining impasse since 2015, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union took decisive action despite regulatory pushback. The KCAA’s court bid to block the strike failed to prevent disruptions to critical air traffic services.
This mega-hub, pivotal for African connectivity, saw its high-volume operations stutter. Airlines raced to communicate via apps and sites, with Kenya Airways highlighting affected inbound and outbound legs.
Authorities moved fast, rolling out backup protocols. The Kenya Airports Authority’s statement called for vigilance: track your airline for live updates amid the flux.
Director General Emil Arao of the KCAA painted an optimistic picture, saying restoration was progressing incrementally. ‘We’re reducing the backlog methodically, with stability returning step by step,’ he affirmed, prioritizing safety protocols.
Officials implored patience, recommending pre-travel confirmations and added margins for arrival. Beyond the immediate turmoil, this event signals urgent reforms needed in Kenya’s aviation workforce relations to prevent future meltdowns at this economic lifeline.