Pressure has eased on Kenya Airways (KQ) following the withdrawal of a strike notice by the pilots union.
Kenya Airline Pilots Association (Kalpa) called off the planned industrial action, citing management changes that saw former Safaricom boss Michael Joseph appointed new chairman of the airline.
The union had called a strike last month which was later suspended following government intervention. Kalpa secretary-general Paul Gichinga said ongoing management changes will positively impact the national carrier.
“The Executive Council has been monitoring developments at Kenya Airways. Based on the progress on specific issues raised by Kalpa, we are confident these developments will positively impact on the airline’s recovery efforts,” he said in a statement to newsrooms.
Pilots had vowed to down tools if Joseph’s predecessor Dennis Awori and chief executive Mbuvi Ngunze did not resign over alleged misman- agement of the airline.
Although Ngunze has stayed put, the appointment of Joseph who is credited with the success of the leading mobile network provider Safaricom appears to have assuaged pilots’ concerns.
Joseph is seen by stakeholders and Kenyans as the panacea for KQ’s ailing fortunes, even as the board ponders a recovery strategy. The airline posted improved performance in half- year financial results released last week , cutting losses by Sh7 billion to Sh4 billion.
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