KQ suspends DR Congo flights in protest over detained crew over controversial banknotes consignment
The Kenya Airways has suspended flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in protest over the continued detention of two employees based in Kinshasa.
The national carrier on Monday, April 29, 2024 said it had resorted to suspending flights to Kinshasa as its operations at the airport were suffering due to lack of adequate support effective today April 30,2024.
KQ cancelled its flights to Kinshasa effective today, citing the continued detention of its crew by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s military over a controversial consignment of banknotes.
“Due to the continued detention of KQ employees by the Military Intelligence Unit in Kinshasa, Kenya Airways is unable to support our flights without personnel effectively. As a result, we reached a difficult decision to suspend flights to Kinshasa effective April 30, 2024, until we can effectively support these flights,” said the carrier’s managing director, Allan Kilavuka, in the notice. “The continued detention of our employees has made it difficult for us to supervise our operations in Kinshasa, which include customer service, ground handling, cargo activities, and generally ensuring safe, secure, and efficient operations.” Kilavuka said.
The KQ staff were arrested and detained on April 19, 2024, over alleged missing customs documentation on valuable cargo which was to be shipped on a KQ flight on April 12, 2024.
KQ had on Friday, April 26, 204 protested the detention of two staff by Congo’s Military Intelligence Unit over alleged incomplete documentation of what the carrier termed as valuable cargo.
The employees have been in detention since April 19 when they were arrested from its airport office in Kinshasa, which the airline said was harassment targeting its business.
“The continued detention of our employees has made it difficult for us to supervise our operations in Kinshasa, which include customer service, ground handling, cargo activities, and generally ensuring safe, secure, and efficient operations.” Kilavuka added.
Kenya Airways apologised to their customers for any inconvenience caused by the situation.
The move by KQ is set to benefit other airlines servicing the Nairobi-Kinshasa route, including Ethiopian Airlines, Precision Air, ASKY Airlines, and South African Airways.
