Passengers travelling through Kenyan airports have been warned to expect flight delays after the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Airways issued separate advisories on disruptions affecting air travel.
The latest warning came from KAA, which advised passengers to confirm their flight status with airlines before travelling to the airport as several departing flights continued to experience delays. In a statement issued at 11.11 am on Sunday, August 30, KAA confirmed that delays had been reported at airports under its management across the country.
“Kenya Airports Authority PLC wishes to advise passengers and other airport users that some departing flights are currently experiencing delays at our airports,” KAA stated.
The authority did not immediately identify the specific airports or airlines affected, nor did it give a detailed explanation for the delays. However, Vantage Ke has established that part of the disruption has been linked to a workers’ go-slow at some airports, adding to existing challenges facing Kenya’s aviation sector.
KAA urged travellers to contact their airlines directly for the latest information rather than relying on previously issued flight schedules.
“Passengers are advised to contact their respective Airlines for the latest information on their flight status and to plan their journeys accordingly,” KAA added. The authority said it was working with aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders to contain the disruption and restore normal operations.
Kenya Airways reports delays exceeding three hours
The KAA alert came before Kenya Airways also issued a customer update on flight disruptions affecting operations into and out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The national carrier attributed the JKIA delays to air traffic control challenges, saying a significant number of its scheduled flights had been affected. As of 2 pm on August 30, Kenya Airways said 30 per cent of its scheduled flights had departed, with those flights recording average delays of between two and three hours.
The airline warned that some departures were still experiencing delays of more than three hours. “We are still experiencing departure delays of over 3 hours,” Kenya Airways stated.
The carrier said it was proactively contacting customers to inform them of flight changes and advised passengers to use its website or KQ Mobile app to check their bookings. Travellers were specifically asked to access the Manage Booking section and update their contact details to ensure they receive the latest flight notifications.
Kenya Airways apologised for the disruption, saying the safety of passengers and crew remained its top priority. “The safety of our crew and customers remains our highest priority,” the airline said.
It added that its teams were working with relevant airport stakeholders to maintain safe operations while minimising the inconvenience caused to travellers.
Fresh disruption adds to aviation challenges
The latest delays come amid a series of incidents that have disrupted air travel in Kenya in recent months. On August 17, rising passenger numbers overwhelmed capacity at JKIA, leading to hours-long queues at immigration and check-in areas.
On July 17, a cargo aircraft aborted take-off, resulting in the temporary closure of the runway and disruption of flight operations.
Heavy rains and fog also caused flight diversions and delays in March and April, while a passenger aircraft crash-landed at Wilson Airport on May 22, 2026, after its landing gear failed. All passengers and crew survived without major injuries.
Previous industrial action involving aviation workers has also disrupted operations, with strikes affecting flights and leaving passengers stranded at JKIA.
KAA has apologised for the latest inconvenience, while Kenya Airways urged passengers to remain patient as efforts continue to restore normal operations. Passengers seeking assistance from Kenya Airways can contact its Customer Excellence team on +254 711 024 747 or WhatsApp on +254 705 474 747.
For travellers flying today, checking directly with the airline before leaving for the airport could help avoid unnecessary delays and long waits.
