Thousands Of Passengers Stranded As KQ Pilots Go On Strike

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov, 5 – Thousands of passengers were left stranded after several flights were cancelled following the ongoing strike by pilots at Kenya’s National Carrier, Kenya Airways.

The strike commenced Saturday at 6 am after the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) announced that pilots would down their tools after failing to strike an agreement with KQ on a return to work formula.

KALPA accused Kenya Airways of failing to listen to their concerns even as the national carrier termed the strike as unlawful.

Attempts by the government to resolve the stalemate proved futile with Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen saying a 5-hour meeting with the relevant stakeholders bore no fruits.

“The action taken by the pilots considering the economic challenges and the biting drought is akin to economic sabotage,” said Murkomen.

The CS further noted that KQ had expressed its willingness to openly engage in extensive negotiations to address the grievances however KALPA disregarded calls to suspend the strike despite asking for a further 2 hours to consult its stakeholders.

“It is estimated that the airline will lose Sh300 million daily as a result of the strike which is counterproductive if you consider the demands made by the pilots,” he said.

KQ which has since apologized to its passengers for the inconvenience urging them to get in touch with their respective travel agents in a bid to address the problem is said to be working with other airlines to reroute some of the connecting passengers.

Murkomen has called on KALPA to honour the court order demanding they cease their strike in order to give dialogue a chance.

“Already the government is thinking of ways to restructure Kenya Airways and make it a self-sustaining company with a more responsive working environment where it will protect the welfare of the pilots and where pilots will not hold the company hostage,” Murkomen further said.

KALPA apologized to their passengers for any inconvenience caused saying that since their notice had elapsed it was within their rights to withdraw their labour.

“Sadly Kenya Airways management’s actions have left us with no other option,” said KALPA.