Kenya Airways (KQ) management has breathed a sigh of relief after the Employment and Labour Relations Court directed striking pilots to call off their four-day strike and resume work.
KQ was quick to commend the court’s ruling that allowed the struggling airline to resume normal operations by November 9, 2022.
“Kenya Airways welcomes the decision by the Employment and Labour Relations Court directing immediate resumption to work by all pilots by 6 am, 9th November 2022. We thank the Court for the expeditious ruling that now allows KQ to resume its normal operations. We commit to complying with the Court’s directions,” KQ said in a statement signed by the airline’s CEO Allan Kilavuka.
Apology
The national carrier also apologized to all passengers who had been affected by the four-day industrial action by its pilots.
“We sincerely apologise to all our passengers and cargo customers for the inconvenience and disruption.
We assure them that we will do everything possible to return to normalcy in the shortest time.
We would also like to thank all our staff who have worked long hours and tirelessly to assist customers
over the last four days. We appreciate their hard work and sacrifice,” the statement read in part.
Money and reputation
Kenya Airways CEO stressed that the airline would now focus on re-doubling its efforts to restructure as well as recover the time, money and reputation lost during the four days that its pilots downed tools.
“The path to recovery will be difficult and will require the airline to re-double its efforts to restructure,
lower costs and increase staff productivity as well as recover the time, money and reputation lost,” KQ Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka said.
Court ruling
Labour Court on November 8, 2022, directed Kenya Airways’s pilots to call off their four-day strike and resume work unconditionally on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, morning at 6:00 am.
In her ruling, Justice Anna Mwaure directed Kenya Airways to allow the pilots to resume their duties without intimidating or disciplining them pending the determination of the suit.
The pilots have been given until Friday, November 11 to file their responses and serve their employer within seven days.
