Editor's Review
The advisory came as the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) announced that its members had gone on strike.
On Monday, August 31, Kenya Airports Authority PLC (KAA) confirmed that the air travel crisis is now national amid the ongoing aviation workers' strike.
In an advisory issued to travellers, KAA said the strike has led to air traffic control service disruptions at most airports, especially Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Consequently, the Authority advised passengers who had booked their flights to confirm the status of their flights before heading to JKIA.
"As a result, some flights are experiencing delays and cancellations.
"Passengers are therefore strongly advised to contact their respective airlines and confirm the status of their flights in advance before travelling to the airport," the statement read in part.
Read More
KAA confirmed that it was holding talks with airlines and aviation industry stakeholders to mitigate the operational impact of the disruption.
It assured passengers that the talks would facilitate the safe, secure and orderly operation of the airport, and apologised for the nuisance brought upon the travellers.
"The safety and security of passengers, airport users and the wider aviation community remain our highest priority. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and thank all passengers and airport users for their patience, understanding and cooperation during this period," the statement continued.
Earlier, aviation workers under the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), KAA and Jambojet went on strike.
The go-slow began on Sunday, August 20, at Kenya's three major airports. Workers under the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) maintained that they would not resume their duties until all grievances against the three employers were resolved.
KAWU explained that the employers reneged on their promise to resolve the dispute within 30 days from July 27. The Union has faulted KCAA for not effecting salary increments for their staff since 2015 and refusing to settle the arrears.
On the other hand, the Union faulted KAA Managing Director Moses Wekesa for allegedly frustrating members, withholding money belonging to the union and refusing to meet union representatives.
KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema explained that the Union's dispute with Jambojet was because of the company's alleged hostile working environment, penalising employees with leadership roles in the Union, and failure to onboard newly recruited members.
