Kenya Airways lays off 80 workers amid losses

Kenya Airways on Friday declared 80 of its staff redundant in the first phase of a major restructuring as part of efforts to cut costs and increase revenue.

The airline's CEO, Mbuvi Ngunze, said the restructuring will affect various departments and all cadres of staff, but added the process would be in full compliance with labour laws, Collective Bargaining Agreements and individual staff members' contracts as appropriate.

"The decision communicated above is not made lightly," Ngunze said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

"I also want to thank our people affected in this process for their commitment and hard work and wish them every success in their future endeavors," he added.

Kenya Airways has been recording reduced profits for the last four years.

Kenya Airways embarked on a program dubbed Operation Pride last year in order to improve its profitability, revisit operating model and network, and seek a long-term sustainable financial structure.

In the last few months, the company has made substantial changes on some aspects of its business, Ngunze said.

"We are on track with our plan, having successfully implemented some of the initiatives such as the sale and sublease of aircraft, the reduction of waste in catering, and renegotiation of some contracts," he said. Endit