The African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) have expressed “grave concern over the continuing Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) industrial action affecting Air Traffic Services (ATS), which began on 30 August 2026.”
In a joint statement, AFRAA, KAAO and KTF pointed out that “the disruption has affected Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other Kenyan airports, resulting in delays, cancellations, diversions, rerouting, and prolonged holding, with serious consequences for safety, passengers, crews, cargo and the reliability of Kenya’s air transport network.”
KAAO, AFRAA and KTF remarked that they recognise “the right of workers and employers to resolve legitimate industrial-relations issues through lawful and constructive engagement” but warned that “a labour dispute involving safety-critical aviation services must be matched by tested contingency arrangements, timely information, and coordinated action to protect the travelling public and the wider economy.”
Addressing safety, KAAO, AFRAA and KTF said: “Regulation 40 of the Kenya Civil Aviation (Air Traffic Services) Regulations requires the ATS authority to develop and promulgate contingency plans for an actual or potential disruption of air traffic services and to coordinate those plans with affected airspace users and adjacent ATS authorities. Following similar industrial action in February 2026, the present disruption was foreseeable and required a demonstrably prepared, tested and communicated response.”
According to the statement, “Operators were not provided with or briefed on an activated contingency plan. The delayed issuance of the relevant NOTAM further reduced the time available to revise flight plans, fuel loads, alternates, crew rosters and passenger arrangements. The apparent failure to communicate effective contingency measures transferred avoidable safety and operational risk and cost to air operators.”
Chief Executive Officer of KAAO, Ms. Liz Aluvanze said: “Safety cannot be improvised. Operators, crews and passengers should not carry the burden of a foreseeable disruption when timely notices, tested contingency measures and coordinated airport response should have been in place.”
Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé said: “Kenya’s role as a continental aviation hub means that disruptions here are felt well beyond its borders, affecting connectivity, trade and travelers across Africa’s aviation network. We join KAAO and KTF in calling for an urgent, amicable resolution and for contingency arrangements that protect the continent’s air transport system.”
AFRAA, KAAO and KTF stated that “the effects extend well beyond the airport. Reliable connectivity underpins the Magical Kenya tourism brand, trade, investment, humanitarian and medical flights, time-sensitive exports and Kenya’s position as a gateway to East and Central Africa. Repeated disruption weakens confidence among passengers, airlines, exporters and international partners. “
AFRAA, KAAO and KTF noted that “the scale of the risk is already known. During the KAWU industrial action of 16–17 February 2026, KAAO’s preliminary assessment of sixteen (16) operators recorded 150 flight cancellations, 382 delays and approximately USD 5.1 million in direct losses. That figure excluded aircraft diversions, crew disruption, network-recovery costs and the broader effects on tourism, trade, and medical operations. A second major disruption within the same year shows that temporary settlements have not achieved the resilience the sector requires. As a regional hub, JKIA also connects onward traffic across the African network, so disruptions here carry knock-on effects for airlines and passengers well beyond Kenya.”
Meanwhile, Kenya Airways has expressed sincere apologies to its customers with delayed and disrupted flights due to the operational constraints within the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Services while actively reaching out to customers with information on flights schedule changes, according to the airline.