Nairobi Airport Disruption Ends After Two-Day Strike Disrupts Regional Flights

A two-day strike by aviation workers in Kenya has ended after disrupting flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and forcing airlines, including RwandAir, to cancel or delay services.

The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) called off the action on Tuesday after reaching a return-to-work agreement with the government and aviation authorities. Workers were instructed to resume their duties immediately and help restore normal airport operations.

The disruption began on Sunday and quickly affected Kenya's main international gateway. Thousands of passengers faced long delays, while airlines adjusted schedules as airport operations came under pressure.

RwandAir cancelled Nairobi flights

RwandAir was among the carriers affected.

The airline cancelled flights WB452 and WB453 on August 31, citing ongoing operational constraints affecting air traffic control services at JKIA.

The cancellations followed similar disruption to RwandAir services the previous day as the situation at Nairobi's airport deteriorated.

Kenya Airways also reported significant delays as the disruption created a growing backlog of passengers and flights.

What caused the disruption?

The strike was led by KAWU, which has been involved in a number of unresolved disputes with aviation authorities and employers.

Among the issues raised by the union were stalled collective bargaining agreements, employment and welfare concerns, and disputes involving the Kenya Airports Authority and Jambojet.

Under the agreement that ended the strike, KAWU and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority will resume negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement. The agreement also provides protections for workers who took part in the strike.

The industrial action affected not only JKIA but also airports in Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret.

What happens to passengers now?

The immediate priority is getting flight operations back to normal and clearing the backlog created during the two-day disruption.

For passengers travelling through Nairobi, the end of the strike is good news, but schedules may not return to normal immediately. Airlines still have to reposition aircraft, accommodate passengers whose flights were cancelled and work through delays created during the disruption.

Travellers with connections through Nairobi should therefore continue checking directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.

The RwandAir cancellations show how quickly operational problems at JKIA can affect regional connectivity. Nairobi is an important hub for flights connecting East and Central Africa with destinations beyond the continent, so disruption there can quickly spill into wider regional itineraries.

A warning for East African aviation

The episode also highlights a vulnerability that goes beyond this particular strike.

JKIA is one of the region's most important aviation gateways. When operations there are disrupted, the consequences can reach airlines and passengers in neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Somalia.

The return-to-work agreement has removed the immediate crisis, but the underlying labour issues have not all disappeared. KAWU and the authorities still have negotiations ahead, including work on outstanding collective bargaining agreements.

For the region's airlines and travel companies, the lesson is straightforward: operational problems at a major hub can spread quickly. Having flexible rebooking arrangements, alternative routing options and clear communication with passengers can make a significant difference when disruptions occur.

For now, however, the immediate threat has eased. Kenya's aviation workers are back at work, and the focus has shifted from managing the disruption to restoring normal flight operations.