This archive report was first published on 12 July 2020.
On July 15th, 2020, Kenya Airways was set to resume domestic flights, but the High Court intervened, suspending plans to lay off 182 pilots and over 400 cabin crew members.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa also put on hold the airline's plan to implement a 30% pay cut for staffers who would be on duty during the resumption of operations.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) had opposed the decision in court, arguing that an agreement it had with KQ provided that pay cuts and unpaid leave would only apply until the national carrier resumes operations.
Additionally, the union wants the planned KQ pay cuts to be repaid in future.
According to the court, an order of stay or temporary injunction was issued to restrain Kenya Airways from implementing the planned layoffs and pay cuts.
Kenya Airways had sent part of its workforce of about 4,000 employees on unpaid leave in March this year, with those remaining taking pay-cuts of between 35% and 75%.
The Government is planning to establish the Kenya Aviation Corporation, an entity it will use to take over operations of Kenya Airways upon its nationalization and delisting from the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
