Kenya Airways - The African Mirror

Dec

2023

Kenya Airways warns of disruptions in holiday season due to spare parts shortages

KENYA Airways (KQNA.NR) has told its customers to be prepared for potential disruptions to its flight schedule during the busy Christmas holiday season due to shortages of spare parts. The carrier, one of the biggest in Africa, said the lack of parts, which is affecting the global supply chain, would disrupt flights for about two weeks. "These challenges are leading to extended ground time of our aircraft for maintenance," it said in a statement seen by Reuters on Monday. "This may also lead to the grounding of one or more of our aircraft." The airline first flagged the problems it is grappling with due…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Court asks striking Kenya Airways pilots to resume work

NEWS

DUNCAN MIRIRI and JEFF KAHINJU A labour court on Tuesday ordered pilots at Kenya Airways to resume work by Wednesday, seeking to end a strike that has left thousands of passengers stranded at one of Africa's most important aviation hubs. Members of the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA), which represents about 400 pilots at the carrier, went on strike on Saturday after failing to resolve a dispute over pension contributions and settlement of deferred pay. On Tuesday, a labour and employment court judge ordered the pilots to resume their duties "unconditionally" at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) on Wednesday. The…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Passengers stranded as Kenya Airways’ pilots strike

NEWS

KENYA Airways warned its striking pilots they could be dismissed if they do not return to work immediately as industrial action led to the cancellation of dozens of flights and left thousands of passengers stranded. The pilots at one of Africa's largest carriers downed tools from 6 a.m local time on Saturday, affecting business and leisure travellers at one of Africa's most important aviation hubs. In an internal memo to pilots seen by Reuters, the carrier said the strike was illegal and asked pilots to return to duty immediately. "This (strike) has resulted in major inconvenience to our guests and the…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Kenya Airways bets on cargo as pandemic wipes out travel

BUSINESS

DUNCAN MIRIRI KENYA Airways is doubling down on cargo as it does not expect its passenger business to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic until 2024, according to its chief executive. The airline, whose joint venture with Air France KLM will expire this September, said its peak summer travel season was almost wiped out after Kenya closed its airspace and losses tripled last year to $333 million. "We expect the passenger business to normalise by 2024. It is a volatile situation dependent on very many things," Chief Executive Allan Kilavuka told Reuters after an investor briefing. To blunt…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Kenya Airways receives $92 million from government

BUSINESS

KENYA Airways has received 10 billion shillings ($91.49 million) from the government as part of efforts to prop up the carrier after the pandemic grounded global aviation, the Business Daily newspaper has reported,. The airline, which is majority owned by the government with Air France-KLM holding a small stake, secured 8 billion Kenyan shillings from the Treasury and 2 billion shillings from the ministry of transport, the paper reported, citing a supplementary budget presented to parliament on Tuesday. Kenya Airways declined to comment on the report, which did not say when the airline had received the funds. African airlines have…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

Kenya Airways plans more pay cuts

COVID-19

KENYA Airways plans further pay cuts for employees of as much as 30% after the airline was hit by the coronavirus pandemic that has caused a slump in air travel, an internal memo has shown. The cuts follow those made in March last year following Kenya's first confirmed COVID-19 case, which prompted the government to suspend domestic and international commercial passenger air travel. The latest cuts, of 5% to 30% for workers with monthly earnings exceeding 45,000 shillings ($409), take effect this month and will run for six to 12 months, the company's CEO Allan Kilavuka said in an internal…