RwandAir has announced significant flight disruptions following industrial action by workers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya’s main aviation hub.
In a statement issued on Monday, the airline said flight WB453, which was scheduled to depart Nairobi at 12:10 p.m., was pushed to 8:50 p.m. due to operational challenges linked to the strike.
Flight WB402, which was expected to leave Kigali at 5:30 p.m. and arrive in Nairobi at 8:10 p.m., was cancelled altogether.
RwandAir also confirmed that flight WB403, initially planned to depart Nairobi at 8:50 p.m. and land in Kigali at 9:30 p.m., was affected. Passengers booked on WB403 were re-accommodated on WB453 as part of contingency measures.
The airline apologised for the inconvenience and reassured travellers that mitigation efforts were underway.
“Our teams are closely monitoring the situation and working collaboratively to minimise disruptions while providing assistance to affected passengers. Customers are encouraged to contact our sales offices for support,” the statement reads.
According to RwandAir, the disruption is linked to a labour dispute involving airport workers in Nairobi, as communicated by the Kenya Airports Authority.
Last week, Kenya’s Aviation Services Providers Association issued a seven-day strike notice, citing what it described as poor management of the aviation sector. The notice followed unsuccessful attempts to raise governance concerns with the Kenya Airports Authority.
The strike has raised concerns about wider regional travel disruptions, given JKIA’s strategic role as a key transit hub in East Africa.
