Hundreds of passengers were stranded at airports in Kenya and across the region on Sunday after an aviation workers’ go-slow disrupted flight operations, causing delays, diversions and missed connections.
The disruption was heavily felt at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where passengers faced prolonged waits as some departing flights were delayed while others were affected by air traffic control challenges.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed the delays, saying operations had been affected by a go-slow involving Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) staff, including personnel responsible for air traffic control.
“KAA wishes to advise passengers of delays affecting some departing flights,” the authority said, adding that it was working with relevant agencies to resolve the disruption.
Passengers were advised to contact their respective airlines for updated flight information before travelling to the airport.
The industrial action is linked to a dispute over the implementation of a pay agreement, with aviation workers demanding that commitments relating to their remuneration be honoured.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) addressed the dispute on Sunday, calling for the implementation of the pay agreement involving the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The impact of the go-slow was also felt at Moi International Airport in Mombasa, where more than 500 domestic and international passengers were left stranded as flight schedules were disrupted.
Travellers expressed frustration over the delays, saying the disruption had interfered with business trips, family commitments and other time-sensitive travel plans.
Some passengers called on the government and aviation workers to urgently resolve the stalemate to prevent further disruption across the country's airports.
The delays also spilled beyond Kenya.
At Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, passengers booked on Kenya Airways flight KQ471 were reportedly stranded for close to 10 hours as delays at JKIA disrupted connecting flights through Nairobi.
Kenya Airways said passengers departing from JKIA were facing delays of between two and three hours due to ongoing air traffic control challenges.
“We are currently experiencing delays of 2-3 hours for departures out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport due to ongoing air traffic control challenges,” the airline said in a statement.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this situation has caused to travel plans.”
The national carrier promised to work with the relevant stakeholders to resolve the crisis.
“Our teams are working with the aviation authorities and relevant airport stakeholders to ensure safe operations and minimize the inconvenience and disruption to our customers’ travels,” Kenya Airways said.
The disruption raised fresh concerns over the wider impact of prolonged industrial action on Kenya’s aviation sector, particularly at JKIA, which serves as a major regional hub for passengers travelling across Africa and to international destinations.
Passengers caught up in Sunday’s disruption urged the parties involved to return to negotiations and reach a lasting agreement, warning that prolonged delays could continue to affect travellers both in Kenya and across regional airports that rely on Nairobi for connecting flights.
Follow our social media pages for breaking news updates, in-depth stories and videos.
news@nairobilens.ke
