• According to KQ's general manager Allan Kilavuka, the unlawful strike will result in a great toll on the financial position of the company.
• "At a minimum, the unlawful industrial action will cost KQ approximately Sh300 million a day, translating to Sh2.1 billion in one week," he said.
Kenya Airways now says that they are ready to engage with Kenya Airlines Pilot Association (KALPA) following a strike notice.
According to KQ's general manager Allan Kilavuka, the unlawful strike will result in a great toll on the financial position of the company.
"At a minimum, the unlawful industrial action will cost KQ approximately Sh300 million a day, translating to Sh2.1 billion in one week," he said.
According to the pilots' lobby the strike is set to begin on Saturday.
Kilavuka added that the company has made strides in improving its financial position following the Covid-19 pandemic, and KALPA's action will negate the efforts.
He insisted that the strike is unlawful, ill-timed and unnecessary.
"This unfortunate action may affect both our passengers, who may not travel, and our cargo customers, whose exports will be affected. It will greatly inconvenience travellers for business, medical, leisure, and those connecting with their loved ones. This could also lead to huge losses to farmers whose perishable goods are due for export.
"We reiterate that the industrial action is unlawful, ill-timed, and unnecessary at this point as it will delay and disrupt the ability of KQ to recover and eventually get the airline back to meeting all its obligations."
On October 19, the association issued a 14-day industrial action notice to the management of KQ to reinstate the staff provident fund, which was withdrawn in July 2020 as Covid-19 squeezed the airline's revenue.
"This was the last resort in our attempts to seek better working conditions for our members and ensure that Kenya Airways is managed professionally," the statement read.
"The strike notice has since expired and we are therefore at liberty to exercise our right to withdraw our labour forthwith, as enshrined in Article 41, Chapter 4 of the Constitution."