Operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) resumed normal service on March 7, 2019, following a 24-hour strike by aviation workers that disrupted air traffic at Kenya's primary airport hub.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu) initiated the walkout on March 6, 2019, protesting alleged unfair hiring practices, low wages, and the proposed takeover of airport operations by loss-making Kenya Airways (KQ). The union demanded the removal of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) CEO Johnny Andersen and board chairman Isaac Awuondo, along with KQ executives.
During the strike, several international flights faced cancellations. A KQ544 flight to Kinshasa, Congo, departed on schedule, but multiple KQ flights from Dubai and Entebbe were canceled. Domestic routes to Kisumu, Eldoret, Ukunda, and Mombasa remained unaffected.
The Kenya Association of Travel Agents urged airlines to avoid charging penalties for rebookings and reroutings, emphasizing the need for swift resolution. KQ maintained the proposed merger would create employment opportunities, stating, "One of the underlying principles of the Privately Initiated Investment Proposal is to increase jobs and provide more employment opportunities for Kenyans."
Opposition to the takeover came from Members of Parliament, who warned it could jeopardize the financially stable aviation regulator. Kawu representatives, comprising ground staff and cargo operators, argued the merger would lead to job losses among their members.
