Hundreds of travelers faced disruptions at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as aviation workers launched a strike Wednesday, halting operations across multiple services.
The walkout, organized by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu), targets unfair staffing policies, low wages, and the proposed Kenya Airways (KQ) acquisition of the airport. Ground staff, cargo operators, and support workers—along with duty-free shop employees and flight attendants—ceased work, affecting security, air traffic control, and passenger services.
Kenya Airways advised passengers scheduled to depart after 11am Wednesday to avoid the airport, citing complete operational shutdowns. While flights to Amsterdam, Mumbai, and London remained unaffected, travelers faced uncertainty over other routes. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) stated it was working to restore normal operations but urged passengers to contact airlines for updates.
Kawu, representing around 10,000 workers—including a quarter employed by KQ—demanded the removal of KAA and KQ management. Union secretary general Moss Ndiema told the Business Daily, "We advise airline customers to consider alternative travel arrangements until the two [authorities] leave office." The strike threatens to disrupt thousands of journeys, with passengers forced to reschedule or seek alternate flights.
JKIA, East Africa's busiest airport, handled 5.89 million international passengers between January and November 2018, surpassing the 5.79 million recorded in 2017.
