Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), a critical aviation gateway connecting Africa with Europe, North America, and the Middle East, is experiencing severe operational disruptions due to a coordinated strike by aviation workers. The industrial action, which commenced at 06:00 local time (03:00 GMT), has resulted in flight delays exceeding four hours, creating a significant backlog of both departures and arrivals.
Passengers aboard multiple aircraft have reported being confined to their seats for extended periods as pilots await air traffic control clearance. Kenya Airways confirmed in an official statement that it was grappling with ‘air traffic control operational delays,’ advising travelers to anticipate further schedule adjustments and apologizing for the resultant inconvenience.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has activated contingency protocols, urging affected passengers to seek direct updates from their respective airlines. This widespread disruption stems from a labor dispute spearheaded by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU). Union Secretary-General Moss Ndiema attributed the strike to protracted failures in salary negotiations, alleged discrimination, and systemic delays in union remittances by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
KCAA had previously sought judicial intervention to prevent the strike, resulting in a temporary suspension ordered by a labor court pending further deliberations scheduled for next week. Despite this, workers proceeded with industrial action. In response, KCAA issued a statement affirming its commitment to engage all relevant parties in accordance with labor regulations and court directives, while simultaneously implementing measures to preserve aviation safety and operational stability during the dispute.