(Posted 31st August 2026)
The Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) express grave concern over the continuing Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) industrial action affecting Air Traffic Services (ATS), which began on 30 August 2026. 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 recognise the right of workers and employers to resolve legitimate industrial-relations issues through lawful and constructive engagement. However, 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.
Safety First
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.
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.
Although KCAA is responsible for ATS and aeronautical information, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), as aerodrome operator, remains responsible for managing airport-side safety, continuity and coordination. Operators require regular airport-status briefings covering stands, gates, apron congestion, ground-handling capacity, diversions, aircraft parking, terminal conditions, cargo facilities and the expected recovery sequence.
“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,” said Liz Aluvanze, Chief Executive Officer of KAAO.
“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,” added Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA)
Repeated disruption threatens Kenya’s economy and hub status
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.
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.
KAAO, AFRAA AND KTF IMMEDIATE CALL TO ACTION
KAAO, AFRAA and KTF call for an urgent and amicable resolution of the issues underlying the industrial action, while urging KCAA, KAA, KAWU, Government and all relevant aviation stakeholders to work together to protect safety-critical services, activate effective contingency measures, restore confidence in Kenya’s air transport system and safeguard Kenya’s reputation as a safe, reliable and globally connected aviation destination. KAAO, AFRAA and KTF remain available to work constructively with all parties to restore safe, orderly and predictable operations. Kenya’s ambition to remain a leading regional aviation gateway must be supported by an aviation system that is prepared, accountable and resilient.
-ENDS –
