Why JKIA was shut down for an hour
Flights to and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi were on Wednesday affected by a Kenya Air Force military drill.
Kenya Airways on Wednesday said the one-hour drill between 11.20am and 12.20pm affected at least nine flights.
The drill by Kenya Defence Forces is in readiness for Jamhuri Day celebrations to be held at the Nyayo National Stadium on December 12, 3016.
The scheduled JKIA airport closure between 1120hrs-1220hrs is due to Jamhuri fete military drill.
— Kenya Airways (@KenyaAirways) December 7, 2016
“Schedule changes on: KQ264/265, KQ351, KQ401, KQ412, KQ434, KQ550, KQ654/655,” KQ said on its official Twitter handle.
KDF Spokesperson colonel Paul Njuguna said the closure is a “normal procedure for the safety of guests during national holidays.”
Don't miss this year's #JamhuriDay2016 Trooping the Colour by Kenya Navy @ Nyayo National Stadium,Nairobi County. #OnTimeOnTarget #BravoZulu pic.twitter.com/rZByIghvvF
— Kenya Defence Forces (@kdfinfo) December 6, 2016
The latest flight disruption comes a day after a technical-staff strike threatened to stall operations on Monday.
The job boycott was called off after Chief Executive Mbuvi Ngunze promised to review the workers’ pay and allowance from next month.
A week ago, there were long queues and utter confusion at the airport after a Somalia aircraft crash-landed on the airport’s runway.