Kenya Airways has given pilots 24 hours starting 11.30 am to return to work or lose their jobs.
Addressing the press on Saturday morning, KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka said at least 10,000 passengers have been affected as 400 Kenya Airways pilots go on strike paralyzing operations of Kenya's national flag carrier.
He said the executive council members of the pilots' association have called in sick to protect themselves while their members are on strike.
At the same time, pilots have insisted that the strike is on, apologising to passengers.
In a statement, Kalpa says the onus to end the stalemate rests with KQ management.
"Kalpa is willing to listen to proposals in genuine negotiations," the lobby's secretary general Muriithi Nyagah says in a statement released Saturday.
The airline is likely to lose close to Sh300 million every day if the strike persists.
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen termed the ongoing strike by Kenya Airways pilots as economic sabotage.
He also declared the strike illegal given the court injunction.
KQ had secured a court injunction staying the strike notice on October 31. Efforts by Murkomen to reconcile the pilot's lobby Kenya Pilots Association (Kalpa) and airline's management hit a snug on Friday
The airline is currently working to re-route international flights through Ethiopian Airlines and local ones via Jambojet.
