KQ Archives - Daily Trends

Bluebird Aviation to Help Ease Flight Disruptions Caused By KQ Pilots’ Strike

by Mustafa Juma November 7, 2022

Bluebird Aviation is ready to help ease the current flight disruptions that have been caused by the ongoing Kenya Airways (KQ) pilots’ strike.

The airline in a press statement announced that it is ready to take up passengers on charter flights.

Bluebird Aviation General Manager Captain Hussein Mohammed said all passengers currently stranded in various airports should try out the airline’s unrivalled experience with more customised services.

“ We are ready to take in passengers on charter flight basis. We welcome all passengers currently stranded in various airports to come and savour our unrivalled experience with more customised services,” said Captain Mohammed.

Kenya Airways on Saturday requested its passengers to cancel their tickets for other available airlines.

The KQ pilots have gone on a strike to protest against failure to implement pay rise.

November 7, 2022 0 comment

Business

Fly 748 Flight Bookings Soar Amid KQ Pilots’ Strike

by Daily Trends November 6, 2022

written by Daily Trends

Fly 748 has seen an increase in flight bookings.

This is after Kenya Airways asked its passengers to opt for available airlines following aviation workers and pilots strike that kicked off Saturday.

KQ Pilots are protesting against failure to implement a pay rise.

Dozens of flights were disrupted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi after Kenya Airways (KQ) pilots went on strike to protest the withdrawal of their provident fund by their employer.

The Kenya Airline Pilots Association (Kalpa), which draws a bulk of its membership from KQ, called for industrial action to protest non-payment of monthly pension contributions for staff, failure to implement pay agreements (CBA), and alleged victimisation of its members.

Fly 748 Managing Director Moses Mwangi in a statement sent to newsroom said the airline begun experiencing a surge in bookings from Saturday as he affirmed the airline has the ability to take up extra capacity.

“Over the last 24 hours we have experience rise in bookings including dignitaries. We will continue to monitor the situation and open more flights as the need arises,” said Mwangi.

“While the situation is to our advantage and other domestic operators, we hope that the current impasse at the national carrier will be resolved soonest, meanwhile we want to assure passengers that we have the capacity to ease current disruptions” he said.

Since June 2020, Fly 748 has been on an aggressive domestic routes expansion from flying to the Mara only, to now flying to flying daily to Malindi, Ukunda, Mombasa and twice weekly to Kisumu to support growth of business and leisure tourism.

November 6, 2022 0 comment

Business

KQ CEO, Chairman Michael Joseph Risk Contempt Proceedings Over Row With Renown Airline

by Mustafa Juma August 18, 2021

written by Mustafa Juma

The row between Kenya Airways and renown Airline 748 air services and African express Airways may lead to contempt Proceedings against KQ Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka and Board Chairman, Michael Joseph.

This is after the duo defied court orders preventing the KQ agents from causing disturbance and executing evictions orders against 748 Air Services and African Express Airways.

According to African Express lawyers, KQ has refused to grant access to AFEX and the CEO and Chairman are likely to be cited for contempt of court orders if this continues.

In a letter dated August 7th 2021, African Express Airways(AFEX) Managing Director, Captain Musa Bulhan has requested Kenya Airports Authority to provide it with new alternative access gate after Kenya Airways blocked them from accessing their offices.

According to Captain Bulhan, their workforce have been unable to access AFEX facilities due to an ongoing legal tussle between Kenya Airways and 748 air services over a parcel of land owned by African Airlines International.

“We are unable to access our premises on L.R. No.9042/584 because KQ has denied us access even after the court order was given,” said Captain Bulhan in the letter.

On August 5th 2021, AFEX obtained a high court order directing KQ to allow AFEX use the KAA gate at the Airport North Road.

AFEX argued that it was not party to the lower court matter filed by Kenya Airways against 748 Air services but the national carrier visited its premises on July 23rd 2021 with its agents to vandalize offices.

“Pending the delivery of the said ruling, the defendant shall on a temporary basis restore the plaintiff forthwith into L.R. No. 9042/584 and shall ensure that their agents, contractors, employees and workmen vacate and remove themselves from the premises immediately and unconditionally,” said Justice S. Okongo in the order.

The court ordered against any acts of disobedience and non-observance until it makes a ruling on the matter in September, 23rd, 2021.

Failure to observe the orders, it said would attract penal consequences.

“It is on this background that we are requesting JKIA to facilitate an independent gate to enable us access our premises on L.R. No. 9042/584, “said Captain Bulhan.

African Express Airways has even pleaded with the airports authority to allow it pre-finance construction of the independent gate upon approval.

In another offensive, Kenya Airways has repainted 748 Plaza in continued defiance of court orders.

748 air services managing director Moses Mwangi said KQ repainted the building despite court orders issued against them.

In July 26th, 2021, Chief Magistrate Court granted 748 Air services staying orders, preventing Kenya Airways and its agents from further executing eviction orders.

This followed a legal suit filed by the airline against Kenya Airways for malicious damage of its property worth millions of shillings and harassment of employees.

In July 23rd 2021, around 15 armed police and more than 50 men raided 748 plaza along Airport North Road in Embakasi broke the premises entrance glassdoor, broke other doors, removed and extremely damaged office furniture and fittings.

In an affidavit dated July 26th, 2021,Mwangi said the raid had disrupted normal operations at the Embakasi office and left the airline with significant losses.

Following the incident, 748 Air services personnel of over two hundred (200) employees were unable to access the same premises and could not be able to trace important documents, records and machinery.

August 18, 2021 0 comment