News

Kenya Airways Is Laying Off 207 Pilots After Firing 650 Employees

Published

4 years ago

August 24, 2020

Kenya Airways planes parked at JKIA.

The loss making airline like many companies is taking advantage of the pandemic to lay off employees unceremoniously. KQ was struggling long before the coronavirus outbreak, posting 2019 losses of almost Sh13 billion, from a loss of Sh7.5 billion in 2018.

KQ has so far laid off some 650 employees, mostly trainee pilots, trainee cabin crew, technician trainees and newly hired staff on probation, and plans to shed 590 more jobs.

KQ plans to lay off half of it’s 414 pilots who make 10% of the carriers workforce. KQ spends Sh6.48N annually to pay the pilots and expects to slash the cost down by Sh3.24B after laying off 207 pilots.

On average a KQ pilot costs the company Sh1.3 million.

Employees protests over wages at the national carrier have in the past resulted in flight disruptions or paralysed services on some routes.

The airline has been involved in protracted court fights with its pilots and has also suffered from poaching of talent by wealthy Middle East carriers that can afford to pay higher wages, triggering a talent war that has made pilots among Kenya’s best paid workers.

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