NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 4 — The fallout from the recent aviation workers’ industrial action at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is continuing to emerge, with airlines reporting substantial financial losses and renewed attention turning to capacity constraints at Kenya’s main international airport.
Kenya Airways estimates it lost as much as $7 million during the two-day go-slow that disrupted flights at JKIA, according to figures reported following the industrial action.
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The disruption affected thousands of travellers and caused flight cancellations and delays, with some airlines requiring additional time after workers returned to their stations to clear backlogs.
Jambojet reported cancelling about 60 flights during the disruption and estimated lost revenue at $540,749.
Other carriers operating through the Kenyan aviation system were also affected.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union called off the industrial action following talks involving the government and aviation-sector institutions, allowing operations to resume.
The dispute has, however, raised broader questions about the resilience of JKIA as Kenya seeks to maintain Nairobi’s position as a major aviation hub in East Africa.
JKIA operating above designed capacity
The disruption comes as JKIA is already facing pressure from growing passenger numbers.
The airport handled at least 8.9 million passengers in 2025 despite having been designed to accommodate approximately 7.5 million passengers annually.
The capacity pressure has increased the urgency surrounding plans to modernise and expand the airport.
Kenya also faces growing regional competition as neighbouring countries invest heavily in airport infrastructure and aviation hubs.
For passengers, the immediate effects of the strike included cancelled flights, lengthy delays, rebooking challenges and additional travel costs.
The impact also extended beyond passenger travel because JKIA is an important gateway for time-sensitive Kenyan exports, including horticultural products.
Attention will now turn to negotiations and measures intended to prevent similar industrial disputes from again causing widespread disruption at the country’s primary aviation gateway.
The episode also strengthens the case for improving contingency planning at JKIA while longer-term airport expansion and modernisation projects are pursued.
