An Emirates flight (EK719) from Dubai to Nairobi, scheduled for 10.30am on Wednesday, September 11, was cancelled. Emirates attributed the cancellation to 'industrial action' in a statement. The airline confirmed that rebooking procedures were in progress, with passengers set to receive their updated itineraries.
The strike by workers at Kenya's primary international airport in Nairobi has led to delays and cancellations for both incoming and outgoing flights, according to Kenya Airways. The largest union of Kenya's aviation workers announced they would take industrial action in response to a proposed deal for India's Adani Group to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for 30 years. The Kenya Aviation Workers Union expressed concerns that the agreement, announced in July, would result in job losses and the introduction of non-Kenyan workers.
Kenya's government has acknowledged that the airport is operating beyond capacity and requires modernization but has emphasized that it is not for sale. The government has not yet decided whether to proceed with what it terms a proposed public-private partnership to upgrade the site. The Kenya Airports Authority, which manages the airport, reported that minimal operations had resumed by 7am (4am GMT) and that they were engaging with relevant parties to restore normalcy. Videos circulating on the social media platform X depicted hundreds of passengers queuing outside JKIA's single terminal following the strike, which commenced at midnight on Tuesday.
Kenya's high court temporarily halted the Adani proposal on Monday, which included plans for the Indian company to construct a new runway and upgrade the passenger terminal, to allow for a judicial review challenging the lease. (With inputs from Reuters)
