Kenya Airways defends hiring of pilots on two-year contracts

Kenya Airways Chairman Michael Joseph (left) and CEO Sebastian Mikosz when they appeared before the National Assembly Transport Committee in April. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Kenya Airways (KQ) has stuck to its guns in a plan to hire pilots on contract, saying it is a much-needed stop-gap measure to enhance revenue growth.

This is despite protests from the over 400 pilots currently on its payroll, who through their union have threatened to call a strike that could cripple the airline’s operations.