Kenya Airways pilots flying to Guangzhou have threatened to stage a go-slow decrying “crude” methods to enforce COVID-19 measures by the Chinese authorities.
The pilots under the Kenya Airlines Pilots Association (KALPA) said that their rights have been violated.
They explained that they are now being forced to give blood samples for COVID-19 testing.
KALPA in a statement cited concerns with this directive adding that KQ has not addressed any of the pilots’ concerns which they are aware of.
The association said it has held several meeting with the airline’s management and proposed solutions to the problem but nothing has been done to correct it.
“It is indeed shameful that crew continue to undergo inhumane treatment in China under management’s watch, despite their crucial role in ensuring a safe and commercially viable operation,” said Murithi Nyagah, Chief Executive Officer KALPA according to the Standard
He added: “Effective Thursday, December 17, any Kalpa member who does not wish to be tested by the extraction of a blood sample will be forwarding their names to the Chief Pilot’s office, these pilots will not be rostered for China operations until further notice,” he said.
Pilots who are against the extraction of blood sample have forwarded their names to the Chief Pilot’s office. They will not fly this route at all.
KALPA said that failure by the Allan Kilavuka-airline to resolve the issue, they will take legal action for the violation of human rights.
In other news, Kenya Airways was forced to refund a passenger Ksh400,000 following a botched trip by the airline in 2018 the Competition Authority of Kenya ruled.
The traveler had booked a flight to London on KQ but upon arrival, he found out that it was fully booked and was denied entry.
He also missed a British Airways flight that would have shuttled him to London. He paid another Ksh415,262 for an air ticket to London on the promise of a refund but this was never to happen.
“KQ used unfair tactics and undue pressure on the complainant, occasioning them to purchase another ticket on the promise that he will be refunded; KQ made false and misleading representations concerning the existence of a right or remedy; and KQ knowingly provided false information to the Authority regarding the reasons as to why the complainant was denied boarding.”
“In view of the above, the Authority ordered KQ to refund the complainant Sh415,263 being the amount equivalent to the value of the unutilised ticket, commit to be informing consumers of the reason for being involuntary denied boarding and be duty bound to remit appropriate compensation to affected consumers if bumping is inevitable,” CAK said in a statement.
