Kenya Airways pilots issue strike notice

The pilots of Kenya's national carrier on Tuesday issued a seven-day strike notice to their management.

Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) CEO Captain Paul Gichinga told a media briefing in Nairobi that the pilots are demanding the resignation of CEO and chairman of Kenya Airways.

"We wish to inform all the airline's stakeholders that all pilots will from 5:00 a.m. on Oct. 18 down their tools until a comprehensive change of guard at the Kenya Airways is effected," Gichinga said.

"A team with vital credentials in commercial aviation and business transformation urgently needs to be put in place to oversee Kenya Airways recovery," he said.

Kenya national flag carrier has posted combined losses amounting to 500 million U.S. dollars over the past two years.

Gichinga said pilots have consistently called out the inefficiencies crippling the national carrier over the past six years.

"Predictably, the airline's performance continue to decline in the absence of decisive action relating to the airline's strategic operations," Gichinga said.

According to KALPA, the number of pilots working at Kenya Airways has reduced from 525 to 450 in the past one year.

"Most of the skilled pilots have moved to greener pastures in the Middle East because they are afraid that Kenya airways might collapse," Gichinga said.

He noted that the airline is implementing a strategy on cost cutting instead of concentrating on increasing revenue.

The pilots union noted that expatriate pilots earn about 50 to 100 percent more in pay compared to local staff. Endit