Passengers travelling through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other Kenyan airports have been urged to confirm their flight status with airlines before leaving for the airport as disruptions linked to renewed industrial action by aviation workers continue.

The disruption began Sunday after members of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) downed their tools, affecting operations at key aviation institutions including the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).

The industrial action has left hundreds of passengers stranded and triggered delays at JKIA, Kenya's principal international aviation hub. Reports from the airport showed travellers facing long waits as airlines and airport operators dealt with reduced staffing and operational constraints.

KAA warns passengers

In a passenger advisory issued on Sunday, KAA confirmed that some departing flights were experiencing delays across its airports.

The authority said it was working with aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders to manage the disruption and minimise its impact on airport operations.

Passengers were advised to contact their airlines directly for the latest information on their individual flights.

KAA also apologised for the inconvenience and said further updates would be issued as the situation developed.

The warning is particularly important for passengers travelling on Monday morning because the status of individual flights may change depending on operational conditions.

Kenya Airways reports delays of up to three hours

Kenya Airways separately confirmed that it was experiencing delays into and out of JKIA.

In an update issued on Sunday, the airline attributed the disruption to operational constraints within Air Traffic Control services.

At 2pm, Kenya Airways reported that only 30% of its scheduled flights for the day had departed, with an average delay of two to three hours and some departures delayed by more than three hours.

By 5pm, the airline said all its scheduled flights for the day had departed, although they had experienced an average delay of two to three hours.

The distinction is important: while KAWU's strike is affecting aviation operations, Kenya Airways has specifically described the immediate delays affecting its flights as being linked to constraints within Air Traffic Control services.

Why are aviation workers on strike?

The latest walkout is the result of a long-running labour dispute between aviation workers and their employers.

KAWU has raised grievances concerning the implementation of collective bargaining agreements, employment terms and other workplace issues.

The union had previously issued strike notices and reached agreements with the government to suspend industrial action while negotiations continued. However, the union says outstanding issues have not been satisfactorily resolved.

On Sunday, KAWU confirmed that its members had resumed industrial action after an earlier go-slow escalated into a strike.

The union's action involves workers in critical parts of Kenya's aviation system, meaning its impact can extend beyond a single airline.

What should passengers do?

Travellers scheduled to fly from JKIA or other affected airports on Monday should check their flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport.

Kenya Airways provides an online flight-status service for passengers to check whether their flights are operating, delayed or cancelled.

Passengers should also allow additional time for airport procedures and avoid assuming that a flight will operate at its original departure time.

KAA has not announced a blanket cancellation of flights. Its advisory says that some departing flights are experiencing delays, while airlines continue working with aviation authorities to manage the situation.

For Kenya's aviation industry, Monday will be an important test of whether the latest labour dispute can be resolved quickly or whether the disruption will deepen into another prolonged confrontation.

For now, the message to travellers is simple: check before you travel, allow extra time and stay in contact with your airline.