Hundreds of passengers have been left stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi as flight disruptions continued for a second day following industrial action by aviation workers.
The strike has affected one of East Africa’s most important aviation hubs, with passengers facing long delays, cancellations and diverted flights as unions and airport authorities struggle to reach an agreement.
Flights Delayed and Cancelled
The Kenya Airports Authority and national carrier Kenya Airways warned passengers on Sunday that departing flights could experience significant delays as the strike continued.
Kenya Airways said it was experiencing delays of more than six hours, citing industrial action affecting air traffic control services. The airline said the growing backlog had also forced it to cancel some flights.
The airline apologised to affected passengers and said those who wished to change or reschedule their flights could do so without paying a penalty.
Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 also showed numerous flights delayed, cancelled or diverted from the airport.
Regional airline RwandAir announced the cancellation of two flights on Monday because of what it described as ongoing operational constraints affecting air traffic control services at JKIA. The airline had also cancelled flights on Sunday.
Passengers Spend Hours at Airport
The disruption has left travellers frustrated, with some passengers spending the night in and around the airport’s check-in areas while waiting for information about their flights.
One affected passenger, Mendel Goldman, told Reuters that his flight had been cancelled after several delays.
Goldman said he had already spent about 12 hours at the airport while trying to find an alternative flight to attend a wedding in Florida.
He said the earliest replacement flight available was not until the following night.
Another traveller, 22-year-old William Obino, told AFP that passengers were receiving updates late.
“Nothing is happening. Updates are reaching us late. It’s ruining our itinerary,” he said.
The disruption has created uncertainty for hundreds of travellers who had expected to use Nairobi as a departure point or transit hub.
Workers Demand Better Conditions
The aviation workers are engaged in a nationwide go-slow strike over working conditions and the implementation of a previously agreed labour agreement.
Union officials said the industrial action became necessary because several outstanding concerns had not been resolved.
The workers are demanding improvements in their working conditions and the implementation of agreements previously reached with airport management.
Negotiations between the unions and airport managers have continued, but an earlier round of discussions ended on Sunday without an agreement.
A fresh round of talks was scheduled for Monday in an attempt to resolve the dispute and restore normal operations.
Dispute Follows Earlier Airport Strike
The latest industrial action comes months after another dispute at JKIA.
In February, aviation workers staged a two-day industrial action linked to disagreements over collective bargaining and the use of volunteers at the airport.
Although operations resumed after that dispute, union officials said some of their concerns remained unresolved.
The latest strike therefore reflects broader tensions between aviation workers and management over employment conditions and outstanding agreements.
JKIA’s Importance to East African Aviation
The disruption at JKIA is particularly significant because the Nairobi airport is one of the busiest aviation hubs in the region.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport serves as a major gateway connecting Kenya and other African countries with destinations across the world.
Kenyan authorities said the airport handled approximately nine million passengers last year, highlighting its importance to tourism, business, trade and regional connectivity.
Because of its role as a major transit point, prolonged disruption at JKIA can affect not only Kenyan travellers but also passengers travelling between other African countries, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.
Talks Continue as Disruption Persists
Airport authorities and union representatives are now under pressure to reach an agreement before the disruption causes further cancellations and delays.
For passengers already affected, however, the immediate concern remains getting accurate information and finding alternative flights.
Airlines have urged travellers to check their flight status before going to the airport and have offered options for rescheduling or changing affected bookings.
The ongoing dispute also highlights the vulnerability of major transport hubs to industrial action, particularly when the workers involved are responsible for critical services such as air traffic control.
With negotiations continuing, passengers and airlines are waiting to see whether an agreement can be reached quickly enough to clear the growing flight backlog and restore normal operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
