Aviation strike hits economy hard as stakeholders pay the price

Travelers stranded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport(JKIA) in Nairobi on August 31, 2026. The strike which was called by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union(KAWU) has paralyze the air transport both local and international after the workers down their tools over salaries grievances and bad management.[Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The ravaging economic impact of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) strike is already unfolding a day even as normal operations resume.

In a statement calling off the strike, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir described the economic implication as huge.

"The quantified loss to the economy that we don't quite have the numbers yet, has been huge and we do not wish it would have gotten here," he said.

Travelers, airlines, exporters of fresh produce and other players that heavily rely on different airports for their operations told of the huge losses and lost opportunities they have incurred since Sunday when the strike started.

In a statement on Tuesday, Kenya Airways anticipated to resume normal scheduled operations by Wednesday.

This meant that the delay would impact a total of 3 days affecting four international airports and other airports in the country.

This is the second time, this year that the country is experiencing this crisis with the first time being in February

A joint statement by the Kenya Association of Air operators (KAAO), the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the Kenya Tourism Federation on Monday called out KCAA for the lack of a contingency plan after the disruptions experienced in February.

They lamented that this resulted in exposing the travelling public, air operators and the wider economy.

"Kenya's role as a continental aviation hub means that disruptions here are felt well beyond its borders, affecting connectivity, trade and travelers across Africa's aviation network." said Abderahmane Berthé , Secretary General of AFRAA.

They further said that the repeated disruptions weaken confidence among passengers, airlines, exporters and international partners.

Quantifying the expected losses, they said that during the industrial action between February 16 and 17, KAAQ's preliminary assessment of sixteen operators recorded 150 flight cancellations, 382 delays and approximately $5.1 million (Sh663 million) in direct losses, without including aircraft diversions, network recovery costs and the broader effects on tourism, trade and medical operations.

According to the Kenya Association of Travel agents, estimates the travel and tourism industry could be losing close to Sh1 billion every day.

Kenya Flowers Council in a statement on Tuesday, estimated that 1000 tonnes of cargo were caught up in the backlog at the airport, with additional volumes of flowers and other perishables held back at farms and pack houses because of disruption in the normal export chain.

The strike came in the middle of Kenya peak tourism season that runs between July and October.

In a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in March, visitor arrivals through JKIA, Moi International Airport and other border points combined, stood at 193,176, down from 216,738 in February, a decline KNBS attributed in part to seasonal travel patterns.

Those figures translate into an average of roughly 7,000 to 8,000 passengers departing JKIA each day, meaning even a single day of hours-long delays can affect thousands of travellers.

Some 231,598 passengers were recorded to be departing through JKIA in that report.

Several airlines had cancelled numerous flights. In an update on Monday, Fly Jambojet said that they had operated only 2 out of 55 scheduled flights.

Air Tanzania cancelled six flights on the same day after cancelling three on Sunday.

According to the Kenya Association of Travel agents, estimates the travel and tourism industry could be losing close to 1 billion shillings every day.

The horticulture industry was not spared either. A statement by Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya CEO Oisegere Ojepat, highlighted some of the consequences the industry had suffered.

They include; delayed deliveries, cancelled orders and lost markets, produce deterioration and stretched shortage capacity.

Others were, lost cargo space and export revenue and eroding confidence among international buyers.

"Our produce cannot wait. Our markets cannot wait," said Ojepat, who estimated that between 5,500 and 7,000 tonnes of cargo consisting of fruits, vegetables, meat, herbs and spices, normally leave the airport every week.

The situation has been compounded by the recent report that Kenya Airways recorded 16.08 billion net loss, in the first half of 2026, despite revenue increase.

The loss was an increase from the Sh12.2 billion loss recorded in a similar period in 2025.

According to Ken Gichinga, an economic analyst, the impact will be felt across three broad sectors.

"You have your perishable agricultural exports where we export up to $3 million every day. We also have the airline operations and ground logistics. This is going to cause significant disruption for airlines. And of course, for tourism and trade, this is a season of a number of conferences that are being held, and many of them will be disrupted." he said.

Renowned hotelier and tourism industry stakeholder Mohamed Hersi, took to his Facebook page saying, "We aspire to attract five million international visitors per year. I am afraid this is not the road map, let alone a route to Singapore," he said.

According to Hersi, the negative impact extends beyond the normal lens.

Analyzing the impact of Kenya Airways aircrafts sitting on tarmacs in other cities without a confirmed landing slot in the country's airports, he interrogated that every hour spent by the aircraft costs the airline; parking fees charged at the foreign airport, landing and handling charges that accumulate due to overstaying plus hotel accommodation for full crew with their per diems.

Irungu Nyakera, former PS and aspirant for Makadara Parliamentary seat, complained of the effect the disruption had on the economy.

"This JKIA mess is too costly for Kenya, with stranded tourists, delayed cargo, disrupted business operations and millions being lost by the hour. JKIA is too important to our economy." he said. 

Former Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba also took to her Facebook page saying, "does Kenya have a Cabinet Secretary in charge of Transport or is that also being handled by our incompetent president?"

Kenyans online also took to social media to air out their reactions and frustrations. One user on Facebook, reacted to the KQ's statement on the call-off saying,

"This time losses zitakua in trillions!" Another said, " The whole country is just a mess! “Another added," What is troubling is the economic impact that the government is so oblivious to by not honoring the collective agreements." Julia Karanja commented on Facebook saying, "As it is you made losses and now you are expected to compensate Airlines, pay airport fees for your flights stationed on the tarmac, headache of dealing with your customers for woes that aren't yours.

Another on Facebook reacted saying

"That's KQ for us, we will just have to look at the financial statement at the end of year to see how they are performing."

The Kenya Airports Authority recently announced its transitioning to become a Public Limited Company PLC, Wambui wa Kariuki reacted in jest saying,

 "Seems like KAA plc is off to an impressive start." Affected passengers from diaspora also complained. An X user from Democratic Republic of Congo questioned why the strikes had become far too common.

Concern has also been raised over the long-term reputational damage that would hit KQ and Nairobi as a tourist destination. The concern was that travellers would associate traveling to Kenya with delays leaving tourists to prefer alternatives like Addis Ababa, Kigali or Dar-es Salaam.

"Foreign airlines are faced with the dilemma of risking operating in an unpredictable operational environment or cancelling Nairobi flights." Hersi said.

The national carrier would also be roped into the mess. This comes just days after KQ was ranked Africa's leading Airline at the 33rd World Travel awards, for the sixth year in a row. Airports in the country would also suffer reputation damage. JKIA, for instance, experienced leaking roofs just a few years ago during CS Murkomen's reign.

Gichinga also opines that the hotel industry will also be affected. “Kenya is a big player in the MICE industry—this is the meetings, conferences, and exhibitions segment. Right now, we are gearing up for the high season for lots of exhibitions. People are flying in for different types of exhibitions.

So, it'll be the hotels that might have to cancel some of their reservations,” he said.

As the country heads into the December holidays season, the tourism sector could suffer harder if the disruptions re-emerge. 

In the return-to-work agreement signed on Tuesday by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Jambojet, agency fees owed to KAWU and currently held by KAA will be remitted to the union with immediate effect as KAWU and KCAA also agreed to resume negotiations for a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has withdrawn its initial guidance on the negotiations and subsequently issued new parameters to guide the process.

In the long-running dispute over union recognition at Jambojet, the parties agreed to await the determination of the court.