Flights operating in and out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport faced delays on Monday, February 16, after airport workers began a go-slow that disrupted air traffic control operations and ground coordination. The industrial action triggered schedule adjustments across multiple airlines and forced airport authorities to activate contingency measures.
Kenya Airports Authority confirmed the disruption and warned travelers to expect delayed departures and arrivals as technical and operational teams worked under constrained conditions. The authority linked the situation to an ongoing labour dispute involving the Kenya Aviation Workers Union and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
Air Traffic Control Operations Affected
Airport officials pointed directly to air traffic control slowdowns as the main cause of the delays. When air traffic coordination slows, aircraft spacing increases, clearance times stretch, and turnaround schedules break. That ripple effect hits both outgoing and incoming flights within hours.
KAA said departing flights experienced the heaviest impact first, but arrivals also faced knock-on delays as airspace flow tightened. Airlines adjusted departure slots and in some cases held aircraft on the ground longer than planned to maintain safety margins.
In its public notice, KAA stated that the labour dispute created operational pressure points that reduced processing speed in key control functions. Officials stressed that safety protocols remained fully enforced despite the slowdown.
Contingency Plans Activated
Airport management rolled out contingency procedures to keep core services running and reduce passenger disruption. These measures included operational reassignments, traffic flow adjustments, and coordination with airline control centers.
KAA emphasized that safety standards remain unchanged and that no flight would depart or land without full compliance checks. The authority also said it continues to coordinate with airlines and regulators to stabilize scheduling throughout the disruption period.
Travelers received advice to arrive earlier than usual, monitor airline communications, and prepare for last-minute timing changes. Airport customer service desks and airline counters increased passenger briefings as delay notices expanded across departure boards.
Airlines Issue Passenger Advisories
Several airlines operating through JKIA released customer alerts warning of possible delays and rescheduling. Carriers cited air traffic control processing constraints as the central bottleneck rather than aircraft or crew shortages.
One airline advisory told passengers that air traffic control operational delays in Nairobi affected selected departures and arrivals and could trigger schedule shifts throughout the day. Airlines urged customers to check flight status before leaving for the airport and to remain reachable through their booking contacts.
Airlines typically build small buffer windows into schedules, but those buffers collapse quickly when control tower throughput drops. That explains why even flights not directly linked to affected routes still showed delays.
Root Cause: Labour Dispute and CBA Stalemate
The go-slow traces back to action announced by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union earlier in the month. The union signaled industrial pressure starting February 9 over stalled collective bargaining agreement negotiations, delayed remittance of union dues, and claims of unequal treatment of contract workers.
Union leaders argue that negotiations with regulators and airport agencies have dragged without resolution. They say workers have waited too long for updated employment terms and fair administrative treatment. The go-slow strategy applies pressure without a full shutdown, but it still disrupts time-sensitive sectors like aviation.
Aviation systems depend on tight coordination across control, ground handling, dispatch, and clearance units. Even partial slowdowns create visible passenger impact.
Safety Assurance Repeated by Authorities
Both airport and aviation regulators repeated one message consistently: safety controls remain intact. No authority signaled any relaxation of flight safety standards. Instead, officials framed the delays as a capacity and processing speed issue, not a safety compromise.
KAA reiterated its commitment to operational excellence across all airports under its management and said technical oversight continues without interruption. That reassurance targets traveler confidence, since aviation disruptions often raise safety concerns even when none exist.
What Passengers Should Expect Next
Passengers should expect continued schedule variability if the labour dispute continues. Go-slows rarely resolve instantly because they function as negotiation leverage. Until talks move forward, timing instability will likely persist.
Travelers with near-term flights through JKIA should check airline alerts, confirm departure times on the day of travel, and allow extra airport time. Tight connection itineraries carry higher risk during control-tower slowdowns.
Bottom line: this disruption comes from labour pressure inside aviation control systems, not mechanical failures or weather. Resolution depends on negotiation progress between the union and aviation authorities. Until then, delays remain the practical reality for passengers using Kenya’s main international gateway.
