NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya Airways has revealed that it lost more than Sh904.7 million following a three-day aviation workers’ strike that disrupted flights, delayed passengers and affected cargo operations across Kenya.
The national carrier said the industrial action caused significant financial and operational damage despite Kenya Airways employees not taking part in the strike.
Kenya Airways Board Chairman Kiprono Kittony said the disruption cost the airline more than US$7 million, equivalent to approximately Sh904.7 million.
The amount covered lost revenue as well as additional expenses incurred while assisting passengers affected by cancelled and delayed flights.
The three-day industrial action severely disrupted Kenya Airways’ operations. The airline cancelled 63 flights during the strike and recorded more than 160 flight delays.
Passengers faced average delays of more than six hours, forcing thousands of travellers to alter their plans as the disruption affected the airline’s network.
Kenya Airways also incurred additional expenses while assisting passengers whose journeys were disrupted. These costs included accommodation, meals, transportation and flight rebooking, adding to the financial impact of the industrial action.
Kittony acknowledged the scale of the disruption while noting that passengers experienced the greatest impact.
The airline subsequently worked to restore its flight schedule and clear the backlog created during the strike.
The impact extended beyond passenger flights. Kenya Airways said more than 370 tonnes of fresh produce and meat could not be uplifted during the disruption.
The disruption also affected other businesses that depend on the aviation sector, including hotels, ground-handling companies, transport providers and tourism operators.
Kenya Airways clarified that its employees did not participate in the industrial action.
Instead, the strike involved workers within Kenya’s wider aviation sector, including members of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) and aviation personnel whose duties directly support airport and flight operations.
Despite its employees remaining at work, Kenya Airways could not maintain normal operations because its flights depend on several services provided across the aviation ecosystem.
The industrial action ended on September 1, 2026, after the government, KAWU, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) reached an agreement.
KQ also offered affected passengers the opportunity to rebook their flights at no additional cost, with the rebooking arrangement applying to eligible disrupted travellers seeking to reschedule their journeys up to September 20, 2026.
