Kenya Airways: Pilots' Strike Freezing Flights Will Cost Ksh2.1 Billion

National carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ) has expressed fear that the threat by pilots under the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) to go on strike from Saturday, November 5 could have diverse consequences on its operations.

In a statement by its Group Managing Director and CEO, Allan Kilavuka, KQ argued that the upcoming strike was illegal and that it may cripple travel plans amongst all its passengers from that day as well as its cargo operations.

The airline added that the strike may create panic amongst its passengers as well as lead to losses, especially among farmers who rely on it to ferry their agricultural produce across the world.

"Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) notes that the Kenya Airlines Pilot Association (KALPA) has today announced that they will go ahead with the unlawful industrial action effective tomorrow, Saturday, 5th November 2022, from 06:00 hours. This unfortunate action may affect both our passengers, who may not travel, and our cargo customers, whose exports will be affected.

"It will greatly inconvenience travellers for business, medical, leisure, and those connecting with their loved ones. This could also lead to huge losses to farmers whose perishable goods are due for export," stated the airline.

It added that the intended unlawful industrial action negates the strides KQ has made this year in improving its financial position following the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the economy, adding that it is also counterproductive to the Government of Kenya’s efforts to revive the country's economy and detracts from current efforts to make better the extremely needy cases of Kenyans suffering from the effects of the severe drought crisis.

The airline however assured that it was ready to engage KALPA to find conclusive solutions.

Kenya Airways feared that the strike would cost it on that day around Ksh300 million and if it persisted for a week, almost Ksh2.1 billion.

"This strike is therefore an unwelcome distraction. We are willing and ready to engage with KALPA within the confines of their mandate in an open negotiation to find practical and lasting solutions.

"We cannot overstate the severe economic impact of this action on different sectors and the entire ecosystem reliant on KQ. At a minimum, the unlawful industrial action will cost KQ approximately Ksh300 million a day, translating to Ksh2.1 billion in one week," KQ added.

It reiterated that the industrial action is unlawful, ill-timed, and unnecessary at this point as it will delay and disrupt its ability to recover and eventually get the airline back to meeting all its obligations.

KALPA General Secretary Murithi Nyaga stated that from 6.00 am, there shall be no KQ aircraft departing from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi being flown by any of its members.

Nyaga added that KALPA had issued a 14-day industrial action notice to the airline's management in its last-ditch efforts to secure better working conditions for its members, but it has not made any meaningful attempt to engage them and have the issues they raised addressed.

“On October 19 2022, the Association issued a 14-day industrial action notice to the management of Kenya Airways, as the last resort in our attempts to seek better working conditions for our members and ensure that Kenya Airways is managed professionally,” he stated.

The notice surprised Kenyans on social media who advised passengers intending to travel on the day to consult the airline to reorganize their travel plans.

Entrance to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). /FILE