Flights are being disrupted for a second day at Kenya’s main airport in the capital, Nairobi, because of a strike by aviation workers leading to cancellations, delays and diversions that have left hundreds of passengers stranded.
Airlines are urging travellers to check their flight status before going to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) – one of Africa’s busiest transport hubs.
Jack Okoth, one of the affected passengers, told the BBC that he had spent more than 20 hours at the airport, which remained “quite crowded”.
“We are still here and haven’t even got any concrete information on if we’ll be travelling soon,” added the Kenyan student who was travelling to the UK.
In a statement, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association said it was concerned that the ongoing disruption might “affect crew scheduling and rest, increasing fatigue”.
The pilots’ body cautioned against allowing operational pressures to interfere with safety limits, adding that “aviation safety is non-negotiable”.
The disruptions follow a warning a week ago by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) of a plan to go on strike over pay and poor working conditions.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema told the BBC’s Newsday programme that it was “not a go-slow strike but rather a full-blown industrial action”.
He said one of the main reasons for the strike was “the failure by the Kenyan aviation authority to conclude a collective bargaining agreement on salary concerns and issues related to working conditions”.
The ongoing strike was affecting all airlines, with no flights currently taking off or landing at JKIA, a flight booking agency told the BBC.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 shows minimal air traffic at the airport.
Premier Airlines, which operates direct flights to South Sudan’s capital, Juba, has cancelled its operations for the day.
In a statement, Kenya Airways said it was experiencing “air traffic control operational delays affecting certain departures and arrivals”. It added that it was working with authorities to minimise disruptions and maintain safe operations.
“Passengers are advised to expect possible schedule adjustments, including delays,” the airline said, while apologising for the inconvenience.
A Kenyan senator who was travelling from the western city of Kisumu said that he had to travel by road following the strike.
“Passengers at JKIA are currently experiencing the true meaning of patience and character development,” another Kenyan said, adding: “If you have a flight today just carry a mattress because you might be living at the airport.”
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) said it had activated contingency plans at the airport and has urged passengers to contact their airlines for updates.
Aviation sector workers blame the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) of stalling salary negotiations, delaying union remittances and discrimination.
They also accuse the authority’s management of showing an unwillingness to resolve labour disputes that have persisted for more than a decade.
Last week, KCAA went to court seeking orders to halt the strike. A labour court judge suspended the action pending further directions due next week.
In a statement on Monday, KCAA said it was actively engaging the relevant parties “in line with applicable labour laws and court directions”.
It added that “in light of the planned strike” it was activating measures to ensure aviation safety and service stability.
The main airport in Nairobi is one of the busiest hubs in the region and serves as a key gateway between the continent and the rest of the world. Last year, it handled about nine million passengers, according to Kenyan authorities.
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Source: BBC
