Hundreds of travellers are stranded as a nationwide air traffic control strike disrupts operations at Nairobi's main airport.
The stoppage has entered a second day at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a key regional hub, as aviation workers stage a go-slow to press for better working conditions and implementation of a previously agreed deal. Talks between unions and airport managers broke up without agreement, though a renewed round of discussions was due to take place on Monday.
Kenya Airways said industrial action by air traffic control workers has produced delays of more than six hours and forced the cancellation of some departures. The carrier apologised for the disruption and offered passengers the option to change or reschedule flights without penalty. Flight tracking data showed a wave of delayed, cancelled and diverted services around the airport.
Regional carriers have been affected. RwandAir cancelled two flights on Monday citing operational constraints linked to air traffic control services, adding to cancellations that began on Sunday. Many travellers reported long waits and limited updates at check-in areas, with some spending the night at the terminal.
Passengers described the disruption in stark terms. Mendel Goldman, who was travelling to a wedding in Florida, said his flight had been cancelled after repeated delays and that he had been waiting for 12 hours. "The earliest flight they can get us is only tomorrow night, so we've got to wait," he said. William Obino, 22, told reporters that updates were slow and that the strikes were disrupting itineraries.
The airport handled about nine million passengers last year, underscoring the wider regional implications when operations stall. The current action follows a separate two-day dispute in February over collective bargaining and the use of volunteers, which union leaders said left key concerns unresolved.
For now, uncertainty hinges on the Monday talks. If union demands remain unmet, flight disruptions at JKIA could continue to ripple across the region, forcing airlines to maintain cancellations and contingency plans while passengers seek refunds or alternative routes.
