Bluebird Aviation is ready to book stranded passengers for charter flights
Bluebird Aviation has announced it is ready to help ease current flight disruptions in the country following a strike by Kenya Airways pilots.
Bluebird Aviation General Manager, Captain Hussein Mohammed said while other small operators have begun recording an increase in enquiries and bookings, it is ready to take up passengers on charter flights.
“We are ready to take in passengers on a charter flight basis. We welcome all passengers currently stranded in various airports to come and savour our unrivalled experience with more customised services,” said Captain Mohammed.
Kenya Airways on Saturday requested its passengers to cancel their tickets for other available airlines.
Bluebird Aviation is the leading provider of scheduled, non-scheduled and ad-hoc air charter services within the Eastern and Central African region and beyond.
Bluebird Aviation has grown into one of the leading air charter companies in the region, catering not only for the humanitarian sector but to private and government institutions as well.
Their call comes as the troubled flag-carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) on Monday announced a recruitment drive for new pilots to replace striking staff who have grounded flights since Saturday.
KQ’s Chief People Officer Tom Shivo said that the airline has commenced hiring captains and first officers, a move that could escalate the ongoing trade dispute.
Kenya Airline Pilots Association (Kalpa) which has about 400 members has downed tools to protest among other issues the withdrawal of staff retirement fund by the management.
“I can confirm that we are looking for suitable applicants to fill the positions of Captains and First Officers at Kenya Airways,” said Mr Shivo.
The strike which entered the third day on Monday has affected over 12,000 passengers and businesses that use the national carrier to import and export goods.
The strike has forced the airline to cancel 56 flights as of Sunday. Over 12,000 passengers are still stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi while more than 300 tonnes of perishable goods have been rotting at the JKIA since Saturday morning.