The Kenya Association of Air Operaters (KAAO) has called for talks between the Kenya Airways and the pilots.
Pilots at Kenya Airways plan to go on strike on Saturday 5th November 2022 to seek better working conditions defiance of a court order.
In a press statement shared by the KAAO, the pilots and the Kenya Airways have been asked to urgently seek a speedy resolution to the impasse which would damage the airline and the Kenyan aviation sector.
KAAO wants the Kenya Airlines Pilots Association (KALPA) to engage the airline management in a more rational manner.
KQ indicated that if the strike continues as planned, it will result to a loss of US dollars 2.5 million a day without including the downstream impact on other players.
“We regret the decision by the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) to call for a strike starting tomorrow 5th November 2022 at 0600LT. This is a matter of grave importance to us as it not only affects our member, Kenya Airways, who we unequivocally support, but also each player in the aviation industry, the welfare of the Kenyan people and the stability of the Kenyan economy which was already badly affected by the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic.World-over, the airline industry was one of the hardest hit, and this action is coming at a time when Kenya is seeking to re-establish itself as the regional aviation hub. In addition, Kenya Airways is at a crossroads as the government continues to support the financial restructuring plan. We consider this action poorly considered in that KALPA is holding both the airline management and the government to ransom over a matter which should be dealt with without resorting to such an extreme course of action,” read part of the statement.