Kenya Airways strike stalemate | Journey Information

Kenya Airways pilots continued hanging yesterday (November 7), inflicting greater than 20 plane to stay grounded. The airline has confirmed it has reached a stalemate with the pilots, who’re calling for higher working situations.

Late on Sunday night time (November 6), the airline issued a press release apologising to prospects and confirming that 12 000 passengers had been disrupted by the strike that day. A complete of 56 flights had been cancelled, and 500 passengers had been accommodated at numerous inns in Nairobi, awaiting switch to different flights as quickly as potential.

The Kenya Airline Pilots Affiliation (KALPA) instructed media: “Within the present state of affairs, Kenya Airways has solely two plane within the air being flown by 4 pilots in administration positions.”

Kenya Airways disputed the union’s claims, calling them “unsubstantiated allegations of frustration”.

“To make clear, 23 skilled devoted pilots can be found and executing their flying duties. These are patriotic and dedicated Kenyans who’re supporting the Delight of Africa and the economic system. Immediately, we’ve operated 4 flights and count on to function a minimal of 9 flights tomorrow,” CEO Allan Kilavuka responded.

“KALPA is just not approaching this conciliation in good religion. We’re at a stalemate. Subsequently, they’re holding passengers, different staff, administration and the economic system to ransom,” Kilavuka concluded.

KALPA has mentioned it is going to solely be able to name off industrial motion as soon as Kenya Airways administration agrees to resolve points raised by the pilots: higher working situations and the lifting of a suspension of funds to the workers provident fund.

“Kenya Airways administration’s actions left us with no different possibility. We had hoped the airline’s administration would soften its stance and interact in negotiating on the problems raised, however they didn’t. Now, the strike is totally in drive,” mentioned union Secretary Common, Murithi Nyagah.

If the strike continues, Kenya Airways could be unable to fulfill wage calls for this month, Kilavuka mentioned throughout a briefing in Nairobi. The airline has begun a disciplinary course of towards the hanging pilots, Each day Maverick reviews.

“I urge the pilots to be aware of the implications of defying a court docket order and to urgently return to work as a result of impunity can’t be an possibility,” mentioned Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenya’s Roads and Transport Secretary. “The bitter and persistent industrial motion is an obstacle to ongoing efforts to lift capital for Kenya Airways.”

In accordance with Easy Flying, Kenya Airways has estimated that only a day’s strike would trigger it to lose roughly Ksh300m (R43,86m).