About 10,000 passengers have been affected by the ongoing industrial action by Kenya Airways pilots which kicked off today at 6:00 am paralysing operations and travel schedules of at least 10,000 passengers and cargo consignments.
Agony, anger and confusion played out at the country’s largest international airport, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as stranded passengers were left helpless despite having made the travel payments in full.
Also those seeking medical attention abroad were not spared either.
Expressing desperation, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen saying It is unfair for the pilots to try and test the new administration with the strike.
“We are hoping that a decision will be reached as soon as possible… about 10,000 passengers have been affected so far. We respect the views and concerns of the pilots but we believe they went about it the wrong way. The government is willing to listen to the issues they are raising.” Said cabinet secretary kipchumba Murkomen
The pilots have gone ahead with the strike despite court orders barring the same.
Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alland Kilavuka said they met Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) yesterday for five hours together with Labor and Transport Cabinet Secretaries and agreed to have further consultations but the pilots still went ahead with the strike.
Currently, openly infuriated travelers were seen stranded at the airport.
“They should have thought about me first… My brother is waiting for me to emcee his wedding in Ghana.” A frustrated traveler lamented.
KALPA association is protesting a decision to suspend contributions to the provident fund, which they claim is a contractual agreement between the airline and all employees. The pilots said KQ has unilaterally stopped both the employees’ and the employers’ contribution since 2020 and has failed to resume the retirement benefits scheme.
The operational crisis comes at the backdrop of a perennially lose making airline that has been depending on government for bail outs.
Their financial troubles were augmented by the Covid 19 pandemic that halted global travel.
KQ said it plans to overhaul its operations and return to profitability by 2024 however this strike might just cause a delay in the implementation of some of the new measures.
Kenya Airways risks of paying hefty fines on cancellation of flights totaling about Sh300 million. KQ is working on rerouting flights through Ethiopia local flights via jumbo jet.
