This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
Kenya Airways is facing a crisis of flight delays and cancellations, which are severely impacting the airline's revenue. The situation has been exacerbated by a collective bargaining agreement that has been subject to misuse.
According to data, the airline has canceled over 52 flights in August alone. Between January and July, Kenya Airways spent Ksh118 million to accommodate passengers whose flights were delayed or canceled. This cost is eating into the airline's revenue, which is largely dependent on passenger bookings.
For instance, the airline has provided housing for 19,345 passengers over the past seven months, resulting in hotel and meal expenditure that is 250% above its budget. The airline's One Time Performance analysis reveals that delays are often caused by staff constraints, technical issues, and air traffic congestion in destinations.
In 2019, crew shortages and crew no-shows led to the cancellation of 182 flights. The collective bargaining agreement allows pilots to stay away for up to 48 hours without providing explanations, contributing to the problem of crew shortages.
The delays have also affected the airline's global ranking, with Kenya Airways ranking seventh out of 13 major airlines in the Middle East and Africa. The airline has delayed 28.16% of its tracked flights, with a total of 4721 flights monitored.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has announced that negotiations are underway with the Kenya Airlines Pilots Association to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement.
