Kenya Airways (KQ) has issued an update on the delays that have been witnessed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following a strike by aviation workers.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, KQ noted that some of the departures would be cancelled as a result of the industrial action.
“Dear valued customers, Kenya Airways would like to alert you that due to the action by some JKIA staff, this has resulted in some delays and possible cancellations,” KQ stated.
“We continue to observe the situation and will update you. For further assistance, please reach out to our customer excellence team on +254711024747; via Whatsapp on +254705474747 or X @KQSupport Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,” they added.
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the airport yesterday, Tuesday, September 10, 2024, after the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) followed through with their threat to grind operations to a halt.
In the August 12, 2024, strike notice, KAWU demanded the immediate stoppage of negotiations on the planned takeover of the airport by the Adani Group among other contentious issues.
Similarly, the union demanded that KQ Managing Director Allan Kilavuka, General Manager of Human Resource Development, Anthony Njagi, and the General Manager of Engineering, Meshack. Ochieng Otwaro should resign following their involvement in the Adani deal.
The workers also demand that the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) entire board of directors should leave office.
“Our action is further informed by the declaration by Adani in their impugned Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) that upon buying off JKIA, they intend to lay off the majority of employees, bring in non-Kenyans to work in the project and also force the few employees who will survive their purge to accept inferior terms and conditions of service that suits the Indian firm,” the notice read in part.
Return to work conditions
In order to return to work, KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema said both the Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Airways must discard the planned takeover of JKIA by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd in its entirety.
Similarly, the union demands that The entire Board of Directors of Kanya Airports Authority including its acting CEO Henry Ogoye resign.
Additionally, the workers demand the resignation of Benard Oganga, H**d of Security and James Kiprono Ng’eno, Security Operations Manager from Kenya Airways.