Pilots call strike next week to demand change at Kenya Airways

A major Kenyan pilots' union has called for an indefinite strike beginning Oct. 18 to protest what it described as poor management at the troubled national carrier Kenya Airways, the union's general secretary said on Tuesday.

"We have no confidence in the airline's recovery," said a circular from Capt. Paul Gichinga, the head of the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA).

"KALPA's members will from 5:00 a.m. (local time) Tuesday 18th of October down their tools until a comprehensive change of guard at Kenya Airways is effected."

No one from Kenya Airways was immediately available for comment.

Last month Kenya Airways, which is 27 percent-owned by Air France KLM, said it was seeking foreign institutional investors to raise cash. The company has said it needs about 70 billion shillings ($692 million).

Kenya Airways has been cutting and modernising its fleet, selling land and cutting jobs to recover from losses caused by a slump in tourism.