Kenya Aviation Sector Hit by Strike as JKIA Flights Disrupted
Kenya’s aviation sector has been hit by one of its most serious disruptions in recent years after a strike by aviation workers caused widespread flight delays and cancellations at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, stranding passengers and disrupting connections across the world .
The industrial action, which entered its second day on Monday, has affected thousands of travellers at JKIA, Kenya’s main international gateway and one of East Africa’s most important aviation hubs.
The disruption has been particularly severe for passengers using Nairobi to connect between African cities and destinations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America. Missed connections have left travellers facing lengthy waits as airlines work to reorganise schedules and clear a growing backlog.
Kenya Airways, the country’s national carrier and one of the largest operators at JKIA, said some flights had been cancelled, delayed or otherwise disrupted because of the industrial action by air traffic control workers.
The airline said delays had exceeded six hours in some cases and that the resulting backlog had forced it to reschedule and cancel flights. It advised passengers to travel to the airport only if their flights had been confirmed and offered affected customers options to rebook or seek refunds.
Kenya Airways had on Sunday reported average delays of two to three hours on its scheduled flights as it worked with aviation authorities and other stakeholders to maintain operations.
The Kenya Airports Authority, which manages JKIA, said disruption to air traffic control services was continuing to affect flight operations, with some flights experiencing delays and cancellations.
KAA advised passengers to confirm their flight status with airlines before travelling to the airport and said it was coordinating with airlines and other aviation stakeholders to minimise the impact.
The strike was called by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union over a range of grievances, including unresolved collective bargaining issues and concerns over working conditions and management practices.
RwandAir, Rwanda’s national carrier, cancelled two flights because of air traffic control challenges in Nairobi, highlighting the regional impact of the disruption.
JKIA is a critical connecting point for East Africa, with airlines relying on Nairobi to feed passengers between regional destinations and long-haul services. Disruptions at the airport therefore extend beyond Kenya, affecting passengers and flight schedules across the wider network.
The strike also comes at a difficult time for Kenya Airways, which is seeking to recover from deepening financial losses while dealing with capacity and operational challenges.