Kenya Airways (KQ) lost more than $7 million (Sh905.9 million) in revenue and disruption-related costs following the recent aviation workers’ strike that affected flight operations across Kenya.
The strike began on Sunday, August 30 and continued through Monday before being resolved on Tuesday morning after the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and the Government signed a Return-to-Work Agreement.
Aviation services resumed after the agreement was reached, with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirming resumption of operations nationwide.
In an update on Wednesday, KQ said the disruption forced it to cancel 63 flights and record more than 160 delays, with average delays exceeding six hours.
The disruption also prevented the airline from transporting more than 300 tonnes of fresh produce and meat.
“More than 370 tonnes of fresh produce and meat could also not be uplifted,” the KQ statement reads.
According to the airline, the financial impact included lost revenue and additional costs for accommodation, meals, transportation and rebooking of affected customers, many of whom also faced disrupted travel plans, unexpected expenses and missed personal, business and commercial opportunities.
The carrier also clarified that its employees were not part of the industrial action and remained on duty throughout the disruption, with operational teams continuing to support customers despite the challenges across the wider aviation system.
The disruption has since been cleared, with KQ confirming that its full flight schedule has been restored and backlogs across its network cleared.
“The disruption has reinforced the importance of strong coordination across Kenya’s aviation ecosystem. Airline, airports, regulators and other aviation service providers are interconnected, and effective collaboration between all stakeholders is essential to delivering a safe, reliable and seamless customer experience,” KQ said.
The carrier also apologised to affected customers for the inconvenience caused and said it would work with other industry stakeholders to strengthen the resilience of Kenya’s aviation system.
