KQ pilots start talks with their bosses

Kenya Airways pilots will Monday meet the airline's chairman in a bid to unlock a stalemate that could lead to disruptions this week.

The pilots were scheduled to meet Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze last evening, but the outcome of the negotiations were yet to be revealed by the time of going to press.

"We are meeting the chief executive today (Sunday). We will also meet the chairman tomorrow (Monday) over the issues we raised last week. We are open to a meeting with all relevant parties. What everyone wants is what is best for the airline," Captain Paul Gichinga, the Chief Executive of the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA), said.

KALPA last week gave Kenya Airways top management a week to quit or face unspecified consequences. The association wants the "immediate resignation of the CEO and all the directors of the national carrier".

"While we strongly believe that Kenya Airways has the ability to weather the current storm, it is crystal clear that the current management is not sufficiently equipped to safely see The Pride of Africa through the current turbulence," KALPA Chief Executive Captain Paul Gichinga said in the statement Sunday.

Mr Gichinga said if they do not resign, the association will pursue other options to ensure a change in tide in the airline's operations.

The unrest is set to provide new headache for the airline, which has started to implement a turnaround plan that is being closely monitored by Treasury. Pilots have consistently put the airline under pressure and have also been accused of sabotaging the airline's efforts to recoup the losses by withdrawing goodwill.

Treasury revealed that there would be more changes at the airline as it starts implementing a turnaround plan that includes restructuring of the top management team.

The airline's Finance Director Alex Mbugua was sent home on Tuesday, making him the first casualty in the restructuring plan after serving the national carrier for almost eight years.

"The plan is now taking shape and we are in the final stages of its implementation. We receive constant briefs from management on what actions they are taking," Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich said.