The strike is over. The disruption, however, is not.
Kenya Airways says passengers should continue expecting delays on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, despite the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) calling off its two-day industrial action and ordering affected workers back to their stations.
The airline says the immediate challenge is the backlog left behind by the strike.
“Following the Air Traffic Control workers’ strike call-off this morning, teams have been working through the flight backlog to restore operations. Customers should expect some delays,” Kenya Airways said in a statement.
The carrier expects the recovery to stretch into Tuesday before scheduled operations return to normal on Wednesday, September 2.
That means the end of the industrial action does not translate into an instant return to the original flight timetable.
Why passengers are still waiting
During the strike, flights were disrupted, creating a chain of changes across the airline’s network.
Kenya Airways is now working through that backlog, meaning passengers affected by the disruption may still receive revised flight times even after the strike has ended.
The airline said affected customers would be notified through SMS, WhatsApp and email using the contact details provided when making their bookings.
Passengers have also been advised to check their flight status through the Kenya Airways website or mobile application, particularly through the “Manage Booking” section.
For travellers whose plans have been affected, the airline said rescheduling would be available at no extra cost.
Normal schedule by Wednesday
Kenya Airways is effectively using Tuesday as a recovery day, with staff working across its network to bring the system back into its normal rhythm.
“Normal scheduled operations are anticipated by Wednesday, 2 September 2026,” the airline said.
The carrier apologised to passengers for the disruption and said it appreciated their patience while the backlog is cleared.
It also stressed that passenger and staff safety remained its priority as operations gradually recover.
The development means travellers flying on Tuesday should not assume that the strike’s end automatically means their flight will depart at its original time.
