Airport Workers End Strike and JKIA Operations Resume After Day of Costly Delays

The Kenya Aviation Workers Union suspended its industrial action on Tuesday February 17, bringing an end to a one-day strike that disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport in Mombasa. The walkout, which started at 6am on Monday February 16 over unresolved collective bargaining issues including permanent employment terms, caused significant delays and cancellations before negotiations with the Transport and Labour Ministries produced an agreement to address grievances through ongoing CBA talks.

With the strike officially over, airlines confirmed resumption of normal services at JKIA by Tuesday afternoon. Kenya Airways advised passengers that schedules were gradually normalising after air traffic control disruptions forced adjustments the previous day. International carriers such as Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways, which had cancelled select flights on Monday, worked to reinstate operations and clear backlogs. Jambojet and other domestic operators also returned to regular timetables, though some residual schedule shifts persisted into the evening as ground handlers processed delayed aircraft.

The brief stoppage had inflicted clear short-term damage. Departure delays reached up to four hours at JKIA from Monday morning, stranding hundreds of passengers in terminals or aboard planes. Reports described overcrowding and limited information, with travellers left waiting overnight in some cases. One passenger recounted the terminal coming to a complete standstill for hours, while another, Job Cheruiyot, spent more than a day at the airport after an evening flight failed to depart on time. Many incurred extra expenses for accommodation, meals or alternative transport in Nairobi.

Moi International Airport experienced comparable but smaller disruptions. Cargo movements paused nationwide, affecting time-sensitive shipments including fresh produce. Although no official loss figures emerged for this specific action, similar past aviation disputes in Kenya have seen daily impacts in the hundreds of millions of shillings for exporters due to spoilage, alongside revenue shortfalls for travel agents estimated at around Sh2 million per day from lost ticket sales and commissions.

Supporting businesses around JKIA felt the pinch immediately. Taxi drivers and shuttle operators reported sharp drops in business as arrivals stalled. Travel agencies handled surges in rebookings and refund requests, cutting into earnings. The hub role of JKIA amplified the ripple effects, with delays cascading through regional and international connections to Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Pilots from the Kenya Airline Pilots Association had raised concerns about crew fatigue from extended duty periods, though no safety incidents occurred.

The union's secretary-general Moss Ndiema confirmed the suspension after the government agreement, noting that demands would now proceed through formal negotiation channels rather than continued action. Authorities and airlines moved swiftly to restore order, with JKIA clearing the backlog by late Tuesday. Passengers affected by Monday's chaos were directed to check carrier policies for possible refunds or compensation.

This resolution ended what could have become a longer disruption in Kenya's aviation sector, where labour tensions over pay, contracts and conditions have surfaced periodically. The quick end limited the overall economic friction, but the episode served as a reminder of how vulnerable flight operations remain to even brief industrial actions. Stakeholders now focus on sustained dialogue to prevent recurrence and on full recovery of schedules in the days ahead.