A NAIROBI court has ordered striking Kenya Airways pilots to return to work by Wednesday morning after the days-long walkout forced dozens of flight cancellations and left thousands of passengers stranded.
Justice Anna Mwaure on Tuesday ordered ‘the Kenya Airways pilots to resume their duties as pilots by 6:00 am on 9th November 2022 unconditionally.’
Members of the Kenya Airline Pilots Association, a union that represents about 400 pilots at the carrier, went on strike on Saturday after failing to resolve a dispute over their pensions contributions and settlement of deferred pay.
The walkout led to the cancellation of dozens of flights by one of Africa’s largest carriers and stranded thousands of passengers.
Tuesday’s court ruling comes after a letter written by the Kenya Airways CEO outlined its plans to cancel its bargaining and recognition agreements with the pilots union. The letter called the strike unlawful and said it amounts to economic sabotage.
Kenya Airways, which has 36 aircraft in its fleet, serves just as many countries on its routes. The airline is privately owned, but the Kenyan government has a 48.9 percent stake in it.