Kenya pilots - Retired, not sacked

Kenya Airways Says 10 Pilots Retired, Not Sacked

A Kenya Airways flight. Strike planned to start on Wednesday next week over pay dispute.

Kenya Airways have denied claims that they plan to sack 10 pilots to cut costs. The Airline said that the ten pilots were set for retirement and not sacked.

"They were all set to retire in the near term and the notice letters were issued as part of the reduction in the B777-200 fleet in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed between KALPA and Kenya Airways," said Senior Account Executive Wathira Mbage in a statement on Wednesday.

Mbage said that the senior pilots, aged between 62 and 65 have been employed by the airline for several decades and are expected to retire with full benefits. He added that Kenya Airways announced the decision to sell off its B777 -200 fleet in November last year and keeping the newer B777-300 fleet.

This comes after KQ pilots were expected to start a go-slow on Thursday to protest recent sackings of their colleagues and possible salary cuts for others.

The employees said that the go-slow follows a directive by their union. KQ employees who spoke to the Star on Tuesday on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the pilots are "withdrawing goodwill" to protest the recent move by the airline to force 10 pilots assigned to B777-200 jets into early retirement.

Two of the pilots allegedly received their termination letters only hours before they were due to fly home on return flights. The pilots said KQ threatened the safety of the flights since the news could have adversely psychologically affected the captains Most of the pilots fired, sources said, are among veterans at the airline, some of them with over 40 years' experience.

"I would like to bring to your attention the fact that Kenya Airways HR have started handing out forced early retirement letters to our senior members. This is despite our protests on this kind of action as there is no justification for it other than the usual 'haemorrhage' story," states a letter by the Kenya Airline Pilots' Association to its members.

The letter, dated March 10 and signed by Kalpa secretary general Ronald Karauri, states that the move by KQ is "unacceptable" and calls for action by other pilots.