This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
Kenya Airways pilots have been at the center of a blame game over the airline's recent flight cancellations and delays. According to outgoing CEO Sebastian Mikosz, pilots lodge fictitious sick calls, resulting in tens of flights being cancelled and many more delayed.
However, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) has denied these claims, stating that they have been forced to make sacrifices to ensure safe transportation of passengers. KALPA's Secretary General, Capt. Murithi Nyagah, said, 'Just to keep this airline afloat, we sacrifice family time and important social events to safely transport you as our guests.'
Kenya Airways has estimated that the losses incurred due to crew shortages amount to an annual figure of Ksh.5.2 billion ($50 million). The airline plans to reduce its network in the next few weeks to avoid further erosion of the brand due to disruption.
Currently, Kenya Airways has 435 pilots, with the optimum number differing depending on who you ask between the management and the pilots. Mikosz has also claimed that pilots, despite only being 13 per cent of the airline's workforce, gobble up close to 50 per cent of the payroll.
However, KALPA's Chairman, Capt. Njoroge Murimi, has disputed these claims, saying, 'Personally I would take a pay cut if you prove to me that the problem is pilots' pay. We don't think this is the problem.'
