Kenya Airways says it lost more than US$7 million, equivalent to over Sh904.7 million, during a three day industrial action that disrupted flight operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other Kenyan airports.
The airline says the figure covers lost revenue along with costs tied to passenger accommodation, meals, transportation and flight rebooking. During the disruption, Kenya Airways cancelled 63 flights and recorded more than 160 delays, with average delays exceeding six hours. More than 370 tonnes of fresh produce and meat could not be uplifted while flights were grounded.
What Caused the Disruption
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union walked out on August 30 over unresolved pay disputes and a collective bargaining agreement the union says the government failed to implement despite a framework signed in July. The strike halted air traffic control services and stranded passengers at JKIA for two days, with knock on delays reaching Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu.
RwandAir cancelled flights on both days of the strike. Jambojet managed only two of its 55 scheduled flights on the first day. Kenya’s fresh produce exporters lost an estimated $3 million a day as shipments of flowers, fruit, vegetables and meat stalled, a figure that lines up with the more than 370 tonnes Kenya Airways says it could not uplift.
Return to Work Agreement Signed Tuesday
The union suspended its action on September 1 after signing a return to work agreement chaired by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir. The document required striking workers to resume duty immediately and settled several disputes that had built up since July, including agency fees the Kenya Airports Authority owed the union and revised bargaining parameters from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The Kenya Airports Authority, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, KAWU and the Central Organisation of Trade Unions signed the agreement alongside government officials. It also barred any disciplinary action against workers who took part in the strike and committed all parties to resolving future disputes through negotiation rather than industrial action, the third such disruption in a year following an earlier strike in February and a July truce that broke down before the August walkout.
Operations Restored
Kenya Airways says normal operations have since resumed, with its full flight schedule restored and backlogs cleared. Both Kenya Airways and Jambojet spent Tuesday working through delayed flights as aircraft and crews were repositioned across their networks, with Kenya Airways targeting a return to normal scheduled operations by September 2.
The airline is allowing customers affected by the disruption to rebook flights at no extra cost and says it is notifying passengers directly through SMS, WhatsApp and email.
