Staff Protests and Air Traffic Control Disruptions Cause Major JKIA Flight Delays

Kenya Airways emphasised that safety remains the highest priority and apologised for the disruption, noting that its teams are working with aviation authorities and airport stakeholders to maintain safe operations while addressing 2-3 hour delays from JKIA.
The go-slow protest by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) staff led to blockades at JKIA and Wilson Airport entrances, with several flights left on the ground for hours.
On longer routes, Nairobi–New York services have shown notable delays; tracking platforms indicate delays can approach or exceed an hour on some rotations, and independent analyses (AirHelp) flag Kenya Airways as regularly experiencing long delays, contributing to network-wide schedule slippage.
Kenya Airports Authority has issued advisories that some departing flights are experiencing delays and that measures are being implemented to facilitate smoother airport operations, with passengers urged to check with their airlines for the latest information.
Flights at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are facing 2-3 hour delays after staff from Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority launched a go-slow protest. The Traveler reported that the disruptions hit morning and midday schedules on Sunday, affecting both domestic and international routes. Kenya Airways apologized for the delays and said safety remains the top priority while teams work with aviation authorities to restore normal operations.
The protest created blockades at JKIA and Wilson Airport entrances, leaving several flights grounded for hours. Citizen Digital reported that aviation workers across Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and Jambojet went on strike, causing significant disruption to the country's major aviation employers. Passengers faced long queues and rebookings as ground delays backed up across the network.
A go-slow by KAA and KCAA staff created chaos at JKIA on Sunday morning, with The Traveler confirming that entrance blockades prevented normal airport operations. Staff slowdowns forced flights to remain on the ground for extended periods. The protest affected both morning and midday flight schedules, disrupting hundreds of passenger itineraries across the network.
Kenya Airways emphasized that safety remains the highest priority despite the 2-3 hour departure delays from JKIA. The airline apologized to passengers and said its teams are coordinating with aviation authorities and airport stakeholders to maintain secure operations. The carrier urged travelers to check status updates with their airline and arrive early to navigate the disrupted schedules.
Longer international routes, including Nairobi–New York services, are showing notable delays that cascade through the network. The Traveler noted that tracking platforms indicate delays can approach or exceed one hour on some rotations. The disruption compounds frustration for connecting passengers and creates knock-on effects across multiple flight schedules throughout the day.
Kenya Airports Authority issued advisories informing passengers that departing flights are experiencing delays and that measures are being implemented to restore smoother operations. The Traveler reported that KAA recommended passengers check with their airlines for the latest flight information. Authorities continue investigations while working with staff and aviation regulators to resume normal service.
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