Workers strike affects 24 KQ flights

Kenya Airways CEO Sebastian Mikosz

NAIROBI, KENYA: At least 24 Kenya Airways flights were affected following the Wednesday strike at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The airline boss Sebastian Mikosz said the management has not yet calculated the cost of the disruption but expected the strike to have impact throught the day easing off in the evening.

“The strike affected the morning wave but we expect flights to resume in the next 30 minutes, these are on the Mombasa, London, Dubai routes,” he said. “We are in contact with KAA workers to help resolve the matter as soon as possible.”

He said KQ customers who want to re-schedule their travel plan would not be charged an extra coin.

Twenty-five foreign airlines operate out of JKIA, including Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates , South African Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.

Transport Minister James Macharia said replacement staff had been found to screen passengers and luggage.

“That matter has been sorted out... I can assure you that within the hour we will have our first aircraft actually flying out,” Macharia said.

The cause of disagreement leading to the strike is due to a proposed merger of Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Airways. Speaking on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Transport Macharia James wondered why a proposal would trigger a strike of that magnitude.

Late last month, the National Assembly Public Investment Account (PIC) suspended the proposed takeover bid of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by the cash-strapped national carrier.

This was after the committee chaired by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir met the KAA Managing Director Johnny Andersen among other officials.

Mr Nassir, while declaring the suspension of planned merger, said the move would render the profitable aviation regulator bankrupt.