Travellers at Kisumu International Airport were left stranded on Monday as the aviation workers’ strike entered its second day, disrupting flights to Nairobi and Entebbe.

Passengers expecting to travel through Kisumu International Airport faced delays and cancellations as the industrial action continued to affect airport operations across Kenya.

Some travellers were forced to abandon their flight plans and look for alternative means of transport after receiving notifications that their flights had been cancelled.

Passengers Wait for Hours at Airport

Among those affected was Siaya County Acting Secretary Elizabeth Adongo, who had planned to fly from Kisumu to Nairobi.

Adongo said she arrived at Kisumu International Airport at around 7am to catch a Safarilink flight to Nairobi. She was expected to attend a county meeting scheduled for 10am.

However, she remained at the airport for several hours without receiving clear information about the status of her flight.

She later received an SMS from Safarilink informing her that the flight had been cancelled.

By then, she had already missed the meeting she had intended to attend in Nairobi.

Travellers Turn to Road Transport

Another passenger affected by the disruption was Lennox Omondi, an employee of the Siaya County Government.

Omondi had also planned to travel to Nairobi by air but changed his plans after receiving a flight cancellation message at about 1pm.

He subsequently went to a bus booking office to arrange alternative transport.

Other passengers at the airport similarly began looking for road transport as the uncertainty surrounding flight operations continued.

Kisumu Airport Holds Crisis Meeting

By Monday afternoon, management at Kisumu International Airport was holding a crisis meeting to assess the impact of the strike and determine the way forward.

The airport had not immediately provided a timeline for the resumption of normal operations.

Passengers remained at the airport awaiting updates from airlines and airport officials, while some chose to leave and continue their journeys by road.

Strike Enters Second Day

The disruption in Kisumu came as aviation workers continued their industrial action for a second consecutive day.

The strike has affected airport operations in different parts of the country, with passengers at major airports facing flight cancellations, delays and uncertainty over scheduled services.

At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, passengers have also reported prolonged waits as the industrial action disrupted air traffic operations.

The wider dispute involves aviation workers and authorities over employment and labour-related issues.

Airlines Affected

The strike has placed pressure on airlines operating domestic and regional routes.

Passengers travelling from Kisumu to destinations such as Nairobi and Entebbe have been among those affected.

Airlines have continued communicating changes directly to passengers as airport operations remain disrupted.

Travellers have consequently been advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.

What Passengers Should Do

Passengers scheduled to travel from Kisumu International Airport should confirm their flights directly with their airlines before making their journey to the airport.

Travellers should check whether their flight has:

• Been cancelled

• Been delayed

• Been rescheduled

• Been replaced with another service

Those whose flights are cancelled may need to arrange alternative transportation depending on their destination and the options provided by their airline.

The Situation at Kisumu Airport

The situation remained fluid on Monday afternoon, with airport management assessing the disruption and passengers waiting for further information.

For travellers planning to use Kisumu International Airport, the immediate priority remains confirming their flight status with their airline before travelling.

Source

NTV Kenya