Thousands of travellers have been affected by a workers’ strike at Kenya’s main international airport, with flight disruptions continuing for a second day at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
The nationwide go-slow action by aviation workers has led to lengthy delays, cancellations and stranded passengers, with some travellers spending hours or even the night waiting for updates on their flights.
JKIA is one of the busiest airports in the region and a major gateway between Kenya, the rest of Africa and the wider world.
Why are Kenya airport workers on strike?
The Kenya Aviation Workers’ Union (KAWU) says workers began industrial action because several concerns remain unresolved.
One of the main disputes involves the failure to conclude a collective bargaining agreement with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
The union has also raised concerns about what it describes as a lack of cooperation from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Jambojet, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways.
Workers are demanding better working conditions and the implementation of a previously agreed deal.
The dispute follows a two-day industrial action in February over collective bargaining and the use of volunteers at the airport. Union officials say key concerns from that dispute remained unresolved.
Flights delayed by more than six hours
Kenya Airways said in its latest update that industrial action by air traffic control workers was causing delays of more than six hours.
The resulting backlog has also forced the airline to cancel some departures.
The airline apologised for the disruption and said passengers who wanted to change or reschedule their flights could do so without paying a penalty.
Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed numerous flights affected, including delayed, cancelled and diverted services.
The Kenya Airports Authority had said on Sunday that some flights were experiencing delays but did not provide a reason. The authority did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Jambojet also did not respond to requests for comment.
Passengers stranded at Nairobi airport
The disruption has left passengers waiting for hours inside and around the airport’s check-in areas as they try to find out when their flights will operate.
Mendel Goldman, who was travelling to Florida for a wedding, told Reuters that his flight was repeatedly delayed before eventually being cancelled.
He said the flight was initially delayed until 1 a.m. before another delay pushed the expected departure to 4:30 a.m.
When he went to check in at about 3 a.m., he was told the flight had been cancelled.
Goldman said the earliest alternative flight available was the following night and that he had already spent 12 hours waiting at the airport.
Another traveller, 22-year-old William Obino, told AFP that updates were arriving late and that the disruption was ruining his itinerary.
RwandAir cancels flights
The disruption has also affected international airlines operating through Nairobi.
Rwanda’s national carrier, RwandAir, said it had cancelled two flights because of what it described as operational constraints affecting air traffic control services at the airport.
The airline had also reported cancellations on Sunday.
Union and government talks continue
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema said union representatives and government officials met on Sunday to try to resolve the dispute, but the discussions ended without an agreement.
Ndiema said further talks were due to continue from 11 a.m. on Monday, while confirming that the strike would remain in effect.
The negotiations could determine whether the disruption continues or whether airport operations begin returning to normal.
A key regional aviation hub
The impact of the strike is significant because JKIA plays a major role in regional and international air travel.
Kenyan authorities say the Nairobi airport handled about nine million passengers last year, making it one of the region’s busiest aviation hubs.
The airport has also experienced multiple strikes in recent years as aviation workers have pushed for improved working conditions.
For passengers travelling through Nairobi, the immediate concern remains whether flights will depart as scheduled as negotiations between the union, government and airport authorities continue.
