Nairobi Airport Strike Sends Flights Into Turmoil

On Sunday, August 30, 2026, aviation workers under the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) began a go-slow that quickly escalated into a full-scale strike at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). By Monday, August 31, the industrial action had entered its second day, halting air-traffic-control (ATC) services and forcing airlines to space out arrivals and departures. Kenya Airways reported delays of more than six hours, while other carriers cancelled flights outright. Passengers were left queuing for hours in check-in halls, with many spending the night on airport benches.

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The strike follows unresolved grievances that have lingered since a two-day dispute in February 2026. KAWU’s demands include the implementation of a previously agreed employment-benefits deal, better working conditions, and opposition to the use of volunteers in roles traditionally filled by trained airport staff. Talks with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and Kenya Airways subsidiary Jambojet ended without an agreement on Sunday, and negotiations were set to resume on Monday.

The Straits Times

• Delays: Kenya Airways moved from reporting 2–3 hour delays on August 30 to “more than six hours” on August 31.

JKIA disruption worsens as Kenya Airways delays top six hours

• Cancellations: RwandAir cancelled two flights on Monday; Uganda Airlines warned of possible delays to its Nairobi services.

Uganda Airlines Warns of Nairobi Delays as Kenya Aviation Strike Disrupts Flights

• Passenger impact: Thousands of travelers were stranded; reports describe passengers sleeping on terminal floors and incurring extra accommodation costs.

JKIA disruption worsens as Kenya Airways delays top six hours

• Economic stakes: The Kenya Association of Travel Agents estimated a loss of nearly KSh 1 billion per day to the travel and tourism sector.

Kenya Airways warns of 6-hour-plus delays as JKIA chaos deepens

• Kenya Airways: The airline issued multiple customer updates, urging passengers not to travel to JKIA without confirmed flights and offering penalty-free rebooking. It reiterated that “the safety of our customers and crew remains our highest priority.”

Kenya Airways reports 6-hour flight delays, cancellations amid JKIA ATC strike

• Uganda Airlines: The national carrier issued a travel advisory noting that ATC challenges could cause delays to its Nairobi-bound services and pledged to keep passengers informed.

Uganda Airlines Warns of Nairobi Delays as Kenya Aviation Strike Disrupts Flights

• “I always had a high opinion of your customer service. Not anymore. We’ve been stuck at JKIA Nairobi for over nine hours. No word. No contact. No explanation. Nothing. Some have special needs. Horrible,” — Ambassador Tom Amolo.

Airlines cancel flights to Nairobi as aviation workers’ strike disrupts JKIA operations

Sources differ on the magnitude of delays at the start of the strike. Kenya Airways’ own updates on August 30 described average departure delays of 2–3 hours, whereas later reports on August 31 uniformly cited delays exceeding six hours. No source provided a definitive timeline for when full ATC services will resume, and the exact number of cancelled flights beyond the two RwandAir services remains unspecified.

Kenya Airways warns of 6-hour-plus delays as JKIA chaos deepens

Negotiations between KAWU, KAA, KCAA and airline representatives continued into Monday, with no publicly announced resolution date. Travelers are advised to monitor airline digital channels, keep contact details up to date, and consider flexible rebooking options while the dispute remains unresolved.

Kenya Airways warns of six-hour delays as JKIA disruptions mount