Kenya could have lost nearly Sh800 million in airfreight export value following a two-day strike by aviation workers that disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other airports.
The industrial action, which started on Sunday and ended on Tuesday, caused flight cancellations, delays, diversions, rerouting and extended aircraft holding, highlighting the exposure of Kenya’s trade and tourism sectors to disruptions in critical aviation services.
The effects extended beyond airlines, with exporters, flower farms, logistics firms, ground handlers, airport concessionaires, duty-free shops, hotels and businesses across the region also affected by the disruption.
Kenya handles between 5,500 and 7,000 tonnes of air cargo every week, much of it consisting of fresh produce, horticultural goods and cut flowers. This translates to roughly 550 to 1,000 tonnes of cargo each day.
At an average free-on-board value of $3 per kilogramme, the country’s daily airfreight exports are worth between $2 million and $3 million. Over the two days affected by the strike, cargo valued at approximately Sh518 million to Sh776 million could therefore have been delayed or disrupted.
However, the actual losses will depend on how much cargo was eventually transported and the extent to which perishable goods spoiled or lost value because of the delays.
Exporters were also left facing additional storage expenses estimated at between Sh12.95 and Sh25.89 per kilogramme for every day cargo remained grounded.
The disruption was particularly concerning for Kenya’s horticulture and floriculture sectors, which rely on daily flights to transport highly perishable products to European and other overseas markets.
Even when produce survives a delay, a shortened shelf life can force exporters to lower prices, renegotiate contracts or miss scheduled delivery windows.
The strike has also raised questions about Kenya’s ability to manage industrial action involving safety-critical aviation services.
Shippers Council of Eastern Africa chief executive Agayo Ogambi said labour disputes can result in substantial financial losses and called for dialogue and reasoned negotiations to resolve such disputes.
The Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) said the disruption had serious implications for passengers, airline crews, cargo operators and the reliability of Kenya’s aviation network.
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The associations said the effects extended beyond Kenya, with flights linking Nairobi to Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia and Mauritius among those cancelled or rescheduled.
KAAO chief executive Liz Aluvanze said aviation safety requires proper preparation and warned that passengers, crews and operators should not bear the consequences of disruptions that can be anticipated and managed through timely communication and contingency planning.
The three organisations acknowledged the right of employers and workers to resolve labour disputes through lawful negotiations. However, they stressed that industrial action affecting safety-critical aviation services requires effective contingency plans, timely communication and coordinated responses to minimise disruption.
Under Regulation 40 of the Kenya Civil Aviation Air Traffic Services Regulations, the authority responsible for air traffic services is required to establish contingency plans for actual or anticipated interruptions and coordinate them with affected airspace users and neighbouring authorities.
The industry associations argued that the latest strike should have been anticipated because Kenya experienced similar industrial action in February. They said tested contingency measures should therefore have been activated in advance.
They also said delays in issuing aviation notices left airlines with insufficient time to adjust flight schedules, fuel requirements, alternative airport arrangements, crew rosters and passenger plans.
A previous Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) strike on February 16 and 17 resulted in 150 flight cancellations and 382 delays, according to an initial assessment involving 16 operators. The disruption was estimated to have caused about $5.1 million, or Sh660 million, in direct losses.
That estimate did not include losses arising from diversions, crew disruptions, network recovery or wider effects on tourism, trade and medical services.
AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé noted that Kenya’s position as a major regional aviation hub means disruptions at JKIA can quickly affect air transport across the continent.
The latest strike was called off after KAWU signed a return-to-work agreement with government agencies, ministry officials and the affected airlines.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema said workers had been instructed to resume duty and support the restoration of normal airport operations.
The union had raised several grievances involving the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Airports Authority and Jambojet, including collective bargaining agreements, salary reviews, union dues and alleged victimisation of its members.
