Travel disruptions have returned to Kenya’s major airports after members of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) resumed industrial action on Sunday, affecting flight operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other facilities. The industrial action has resulted in significant delays, with Kenya Airways reporting that only about 30 per cent of scheduled departures had been cleared by mid-afternoon as air traffic control and ground-handling operations were affected. Passengers at JKIA faced delays as aviation workers implemented the go-slow, disrupting processes required for the movement of aircraft and travellers.

KAWU Secretary-General Moss Ndiema said the union would maintain the industrial action across the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and Jambojet until outstanding issues affecting its members are addressed. The union has cited disputes involving backdated salaries, employee welfare and union recognition among the matters that remain unresolved. The action represents a renewed escalation in the long-running disagreement between aviation workers and their employers.

The disruption at JKIA has affected both departing and arriving passengers, with delays reported in several stages of airport operations. Kenya Airways advised passengers to expect disruptions and delays as the industrial action affected the handling of flights. The airline’s report that approximately 30 per cent of scheduled departures had been cleared by the middle of the day illustrated the scale of the operational challenges facing the country’s main international gateway. JKIA is Kenya’s largest airport and a major regional aviation hub, handling international and domestic flights operated by Kenya Airways and numerous other airlines. Any prolonged disruption to airport operations can therefore have wider effects on connecting flights, cargo movement and passengers travelling through Nairobi.

KAWU has maintained that the industrial action will continue until the issues raised by workers are resolved. The union represents employees in various sections of Kenya’s aviation industry and has previously raised concerns over employment terms, remuneration and working conditions. Among the current disputes is the question of backdated pay, with workers seeking settlement of amounts they say are owed under existing employment arrangements. The union has also raised concerns over employee welfare and recognition of its role in representing workers within the affected aviation institutions.

The decision to resume industrial action follows unsuccessful efforts to resolve the outstanding matters through negotiations. For passengers, the immediate effect is uncertainty over departure and arrival times. Travellers scheduled to fly through JKIA and other affected airports have been advised to confirm their flight status with their respective airlines before travelling to the airport. Airlines may also adjust schedules as the situation develops, depending on the availability of airport and aviation personnel. The disruption could affect check-in, baggage handling, aircraft clearance, ground operations and other services depending on the extent of staff participation. Passengers with connecting flights face an additional risk of missed connections if delays persist.

The duration and scale of the disruption will depend on the outcome of negotiations between KAWU and the affected aviation authorities and companies. For now, the union has indicated that the go-slow will continue until the outstanding employment and labour disputes are addressed, while airlines and airport users contend with the resulting operational delays.