Passengers Stranded as Strike Disrupts Flights at Kenya’s Main Airport

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:28:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Hundreds of travelers wait at Nairobi’s JFK due to a strike by aviation workers, causing delays, cancellations and travel chaos.

A workers’ strike in Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has left hundreds of passengers stranded, with flight cancellations and delays stretching over six hours. Kenya Airways has offered penalty‑free rescheduling, while RwandAir canceled flights amid 'operational constraints'. Negotiations between unions and airport management failed to reach an agreement, and the disruption affected an airport that handled nine million passengers last year. Travelers are advised to stay updated and consider alternate arrangements.

Passengers Stranded as Strike Disrupts Flights at Kenya’s Main Airport

Hundreds of travelers were left waiting at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after a workers’ strike disrupted flights for a second day.

The airport, a key regional hub, faced several delays and cancellations as aviation workers took industrial action over unresolved labor issues.

Kenya Airways said flights were delayed by more than six hours, cutting multiple departures and offering penalty‑free rescheduling for affected passengers.

A RwandAir flight was cancelled, and many passengers, such as Mendel Goldman who was heading to a wedding in Florida, missed their plans after waiting up to 12 hours.

Negotiations between unions and airport management were set to resume, but talks earlier in the week failed to reach an agreement.

JKIA handled roughly nine million passengers last year, making the disruption significant for the country’s travel sector.

Travelers are urged to monitor airline updates and consider alternative arrangements for future travel.