Aviation workers in Kenya have agreed to resume work during the second day of their strike that has led to cancellations, delays and diversions which have particularly hit the main airport in the capital, Nairobi.
Operations are expected to slowly return to normal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) – one of Africa’s busiest transport hubs and where some passengers have spent more than 20 hours waiting for their flights.
The transport ministry oversaw urgent talks with unions and other groups.
“Aviation contributes immensely to the economy of the country and we are committed to ensure that the sector remains stable,” said Transport Minister Davies Chirchir.
Passengers are still being advised to contact their airlines for the latest flight schedule before heading to airports.
The news will be a relief to the hundred of passengers who have been stranded at JKIA.
Earlier Jack Okoth, a Kenyan student who was travelling to the UK, told the BBC he had been at the airport for more than 20 hours and was not able to go home and wait there as that was far away in the west of the country.
The strike affected all flights and some companies, like Premier Airlines, which operates direct flights to South Sudan’s capital, Juba, took the decision early on Tuesday to cancel all their operations for the day.
As the second day of the strike began, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association said it was concerned that the ongoing disruption might “affect crew scheduling and rest, increasing fatigue”.
Last week, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) warned it would strike over pay and poor working conditions.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema told the BBC’s Newsday programme before a deal to return to work was agreed that one of the main reasons for the strike was “the failure by the Kenyan aviation authority to conclude a collective bargaining agreement on salary concerns and issues related to working conditions”.
Aviation sector workers blamed the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) for stalling salary negotiations, delaying union remittances and discrimination.
They also accused the authority’s management of showing an unwillingness to resolve labour disputes that had persisted for more than a decade.
Last week, KCAA went to court seeking orders to halt the strike. A labour court judge suspended the action pending further directions due next week.
Following its intervention, the transport ministry said on Tuesday that all parties had formally agreed to an immediate return to work – with a promise of further round-table talks to address workers’ concerns.
On Monday, a Kenyan senator who was travelling from the western city of Kisumu said that he had to travel by road following the strike.
“Passengers at JKIA are currently experiencing the true meaning of patience and character development,” another Kenyan said on Monday, adding: “If you have a flight today just carry a mattress because you might be living at the airport.”
The main airport in Nairobi is one of the busiest hubs in the region and serves as a key gateway between the continent and the rest of the world. Last year, it handled about nine million passengers, according to Kenyan authorities.
Additional reporting by Kaleb Moges
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