Passengers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport continued to face long delays and flight cancellations on Tuesday as the go-slow by aviation workers entered its second day.
Travellers waited for updates in crowded terminals while airlines struggled to keep schedules running amid the industrial action.
The disruption began on Sunday when members of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union scaled down operations at the Kenya Airports Authority, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Jambojet.
Workers are demanding better pay, improved working conditions and the full implementation of benefits agreed in earlier talks. A framework agreement signed in July collapsed after the union said the agencies failed to follow through on negotiations.
By Monday, hundreds of passengers had spent the night in airport lobbies. Some airlines began arranging hotel transfers while others cancelled services or pushed departures back by more than six hours.
Kenya Airways reported a large backlog of flights and advised customers to confirm their travel plans before heading to the airport. Regional carriers also felt the impact, with some flights cancelled due to air traffic control challenges.
Scenes at the airport showed groups of travellers standing with luggage, checking phones for updates and speaking with airline staff. Many said they received little warning before arriving and now face missed connections or cancelled journeys.
Similar problems appeared at Moi International Airport in Mombasa, where operations slowed sharply and only a handful of flights managed to operate.
This is not the first labour dispute to hit Kenya’s main gateway this year. A similar action in February caused delays lasting several hours before talks restored normal services.
Officials have held discussions aimed at ending the current go-slow, yet no clear resolution has been announced. Passengers remain stuck waiting for clear information as the action continues to disrupt both domestic and international routes.
Airlines are working to reschedule affected flights and have waived change fees for those forced to rebook. Travellers have been urged to stay in close contact with their carriers and avoid travelling to the airport until their flights are confirmed.
For many, the second day of disruption has already turned planned trips into long waits and uncertain outcomes.
