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KQ now operating at 20 per cent capacity with 132 pilots calling in ‘sick’

By Wangu Kanuri November 7th, 2022 2 min read

Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka has announced that the airline is operating at 20 per cent capacity with Ethiopia, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka networks already operational.

Mr Kilavuka made the revelation on Monday during a media briefing where he also said a disciplinary process has already been initiated against pilots who have not resumed duties.

“20 pilots turned up for work on Monday. 132 pilots have registered with the operations team that they are unfit to fly and as part of the CBA they are allowed to do so for 48hrs without providing evidence for sickness. 47 flights have been cancelled today (Monday),” Kilavuka said.

However, he stated that 132 pilots being ‘sick’ at the same time is abnormal and is merely an attempt to protect themselves against disciplinary actions.

“It is quite obvious what they are trying to do,” he said.

Also read: Mike Sonko now wants to fly Kenya Airways planes

At the same time, he urged qualified Kenyans to continue sending in their applications for the positions of captains, pilots and first officers, adding that the applications requests are already on KQ’s LinkedIn account.

He said the national carrier is willing to talk to the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (Kalpa) as long as the striking pilots first report back to work.

“Those interested to work with KQ should report back with immediate effect,” he said.

Also read: Kenya Airways hiring pilots amidst ongoing strike

However, Kapla General Secretary Muriithi Nyaga said resumption to work without prior negotiation would be contrary to the spirit of negotiation, adding that the management’s ego and chest-thumping was to the detriment of Kenyans at large.

“We have not asked for improved terms of service. We only demand that Kenya Airways honours agreement that is already in place,” he said.

Meanwhile, KQ has said the ongoing strike would cost it approximately Sh300 million a day, which translates to Sh2.1 billion a week.

KQ’s Chief People’s Officer Tom Shivo on Sunday announced that pilots who would not have reported on duty will have defied court orders, meaning they will be guilty of contempt.

Also read: Amber Ray’s outrage over KQ’s intention to refund her 15k out of 340k paid for flight tickets