KQ cancels flights as staff down their tools

Kenya Airways has now been forced to cancel and delay some of their flights due to crew shortage.

According to the airline, several outsourced crews have not reported to work as per schedule.

Update on Flight Cancellations pic.twitter.com/Sl1dqZZuFQ

— Kenya Airways (@KenyaAirways) October 16, 2016

The airline’s crew has since last week stayed away from work as the crisis at the national carrier deepens.

KQ pilots last week threatened to strike after declaring that they no longer had faith with the current management to steer the airline back to its former pride.

Read Also: Ex-Safaricom boss Michael Joseph set to head KQ as pilots finally send top management packing

However, the government on Thursday, ordered a stop to the planned strike.

Through Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, the government said the strike amounted to “economic sabotage” which would cost the airline hundreds of millions daily.

Strike still on

The Kenya Airline Pilots Association insists that the planned strike this week is still on should the chief executive Mbuvi Ngunze and board chairman Dennis Awori not vacate office.

Flights to Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Lusaka, Harare and Maputo have been canceled while one to Cape Town has been delayed.

Kenya Airways has already threatened to stop selling tickets on its network if pilots did not rescind on their strike threat.