This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
Published on November 12, 2019, Kenya Airways has been criticized by the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) for its plan to hire foreign pilots directly to the Boeing 737.
The association, led by General Secretary Murithi Nyagah, claims the move is misplaced and will only continue to deny Kenyans jobs that they deserve.
“From a flight-deck perspective, we are perturbed by recent developments in KQ about this matter. The Kenyan Pilot is being disenfranchised. This is being carried out through blatant breaches of existing mutual agreements,” Nyagah said.
According to KALPA, the standard procedure for promotion within the airline is for pilots to start on the Embraer, then move to the Boeing 737, and finally to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
However, Kenya Airways has chosen to hire foreign pilots directly to the Boeing 737, bypassing suitable Kenyan pilots on the Embraer.
“This move denies Kenyan Captains on the Embraer from proceeding to their rightfully earned positions on the Boeing 737,” Nyagah said.
The association has also pointed out that the airline is experiencing a serious shortage of pilots on the Embraer, with an average of 30 flights cancelled every week due to inability to get pilots.
“It is, therefore, puzzling as to why KQ management chooses to emphasize recruitment of foreign Pilots directly to the Boeing 737, yet a serious shortage of Pilots persists on the Embraer,” Nyagah said.
