Operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are returning to normal after aviation workers formally called off their strike following the signing of a return-to-work formula.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed that the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) had signed the agreement, effectively ending the Air Traffic Control staff strike that had disrupted operations at the country’s main aviation hub.
The breakthrough followed a mediation meeting led by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir.
The talks brought together officials from the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Labour, KAA, KAWU and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
KAA commended all parties involved, saying it’s a constructive engagement that paved the way for the resolution of the dispute.
“The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has signed a return to work formula, officially concluding the Air Traffic Control (ATC) staff strike that disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA),” the statement read.
“Operations are now normalising across all the airports. Passengers are requested to contact their airlines for the latest flight schedules.”
The airport operator also reaffirmed its commitment to safety and operational excellence across the country’s airports.
As of Tuesday afternoon, flight operations at JKIA continued to experience disruptions for the second consecutive day as workers sustained their industrial action, resulting in cancellations, delays and diversions that reportedly left some passengers stranded.
Although a limited number of aircraft were cleared to land and depart in the early hours of the morning, several flights were reported to have been delayed, cancelled or redirected to alternative destinations, including Wilson Airport, according to airport sources and flight tracking data.
Data from flight tracking platform Flightradar24 indicated that multiple aircraft were holding within the Nairobi airspace or adjusting schedules as airport operations appeared to slow amid limited staffing.
