Hundreds of travellers around East Africa were stranded while others had their travel schedules disrupted due to the ongoing aviation workers’ strike at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), airlines warned on Wednesday.
Rwandair, Ethiopian and Ugandan Airlines all advised their guests to await information on their flights as air travel into and out of Nairobi was paralysed.
Travellers stranded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on September 11, 2024.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
Rwandair announced immediate cancellations while Uganda Airlines issued a statement warning of “possible delays and disruptions in its regional flight schedule.”
On its part, Ethiopian Airlines said it was “closely monitoring the situation and working to minimise the impact on our passengers.”
Kenyan regulator, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam), warning of continual flight disruptions for departures and arrivals, and asked pilots to expect delays on their schedules.
The disruptions are expected to leave several travellers stranded at Entebbe and Kigali airports.
Uganda Airlines flies twice daily from Entebbe to Nairobi while RwandAir operates three flights to Nairobi out of Kigali daily. Ethiopian operates four daily flights in and out of Nairobi.
Kenya’s airport workers union announced the strike effective Wednesday midnight after it emerged that the Kenya government has proposed to lease JKIA to an Indian conglomerate, Adani Group, for 30 years. Airport workers fear that the deal will result in job losses.
On Tuesday, Kenya’s High Court temporarily suspended the proposed leasing plan util October 8 when a hearing for the case will be fixed. The petition challenging the deal was filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Law Society of Kenya.
In a statement on Wednesday, JKIA’s management apologised for inconvenience caused by the strike, but said minimal operations had resumed as the authorities engaged relevant parties.
The development comes as the Comesa Competition Commission, the regional consumer protection watchdog, this week started an investigation into how airlines treat travellers affected by flight delays and cancellations.