Ethiopian Airlines announces disruption of flights to Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya - Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa's most stable national carriers, announced flight disruptions to Kenya's capital Nairobi, following disagreements between aviation workers and the government of Kenya.

For the better part of Wednesday, aviation workers in Nairobi downed tools within Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the biggest airport in East Africa, protesting against a deal signed by the government to expand the facility.

The Ethiopian Airlines issued a statement apologizing to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the flight disruptions, which have affected airport operations in the Kenyan capital. The disruption affected the travel arrangements of hundreds of passengers.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and working to minimize the impact on our passengers," Ethiopian Airlines said.

Many airlines are informing travelers to check for updates as the strike continues to impact flight schedules. The flight schedules to Kenya were changed with airborne aircraft directed to different countries throughout the protests.

Hundreds of workers at Kenya's main international airport protested a proposed deal between the government and India's Adani Group. The demonstration has left planes grounded and hundreds of passengers stranded, officials said.

The Kenyan government stated that the agreement with Adani Group would involve modernizing Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, including the construction of a new runway and terminal. In return, the Adani Group would operate the airport for 30 years.

However, the Kenya Airport Workers Union, which organized the strike, warned that the deal could result in job losses and "inferior terms and conditions of service" for the remaining employees, according to the Associated Press.

GAROWE ONLINE