Kenya Airways decides to refund passengers affected by pilots’ strike
By Martin Oduor, November 5, 2022
Kenya Airways (KQ) management has reached out to passengers affected by the ongoing pilots’ strike to offer solutions after flights were cancelled.
In a statement to the public, KQ offered to book passages on other airlines as well as provide refunds for those that decided not to travel.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience to your travel due to the ongoing unlawful strike by our pilots. We will do our best t provide you an alternative solution at the earliest opportunity which may include rebooking you on other airlines. In case you choose not to travel, you can request for a refund for the unutilised ticket,” KQ said in a statement.
— Kenya Airways (@KenyaAirways) November 5, 2022
Who to contact
KQ management also communicated to affected passengers how they could reach out to the airline for help concerning their cancelled flights.
The troubled national carrier instructed passengers who were to travel within 48 hours to contact them through their official phone numbers while those that were to travel after two days were told to contact the airline via email.
“Due to the ongoing unlawful industrial action by Kenya Airways Pilots Association (KALPA), we are experiencing high call volumes at our Customer Excellence Centre. Please contact us only if you are travelling within 48 hours. Kindly accept our apologies for the inconvenience. Our contacts: Email: CEC@kenya-airways.com. Phone: 0711 024 747, 0734 104 747 or WhatsApp: 0705 474 747.
“For those NOT travelling in the next 48 hours, kindly sent an email to: Customer.Relations@kenya-airways.com or contact your travel agent. We will continuously communicate to all affected passengers,” KQ management wrote.
— Kenya Airways (@KenyaAirways) November 5, 2022
Affected passengers
Popular musician Otile Brown was among the passengers who were affected by the pilots’ strike. The singer angrily blasted the national carrier after getting stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) when a KQ flight that he was scheduled to be on was cancelled.
Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) had in a statement said its members will begin their industrial strike on Saturday, October 5, after Kenya Airways management failed to address their grievances.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen says he hopes negotiators between the government and Kenya Airways(KQ) can reach new deals to halt an ongoing strike by the pilots.
Speaking after a crisis meeting with KQ, the CS says efforts to stop the strike is a major test for the new administration.