This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
Kenya Airways has been facing a severe pilot shortage, which has led to a significant increase in flight cancellations and delays. The airline has been seeking to recruit direct entry captains since November 2018, but has been unsuccessful due to a restrictive Collective Bargaining Agreement that only allows it to employ Embraer-rated pilots.
According to an internal communication to staff, outgoing chief executive Sebastian Mikosz stated that the airline is in discussion with the pilots' union to relax this requirement. He expressed hope that an agreement would be reached soon to give confidence to the board and investors that the airline can source adequate pilots to complement its fleet and network expansion.
As of August, Kenya Airways had 434 pilots, having recruited 27 this year alone. The airline requires 497 pilots, and its intention is to hire an additional 21 second officers with a target of 48 at the end of the year.
The airline has faced a barrage of complaints from its customers over regular flight cancellations and delays, which have seen the government demand an explanation from the management. Kenya Airways has footed a bill of over $1.18 million to accommodate stranded passengers over the past seven months.
However, Captain Muriithi Nyaga, chief executive and general secretary of the Kenya Airline Pilots Association, disputed the airline's claims, stating that it was wrong to blame pilots for the rising cases of flight cancellations without a full appreciation of the factors at play.
