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Kenyan low cost carrier Jambojet has warned passengers to brace for continued flight delays, even as services resume, while the airline works through a large backlog created by a two day aviation workers’ strike that disrupted operations across the country.
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Flights Resume but Schedules Remain Under Strain
Publicly available customer updates from Jambojet indicate that the airline resumed what it describes as normal flight operations on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, following the suspension of an air traffic control workers’ strike that had slowed or halted departures at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and several regional hubs.
Despite the restart, the carrier has cautioned that many travellers are likely to encounter delays as it gradually restores its timetable and clears passengers whose flights were cancelled or significantly delayed during the industrial action. Reports in Kenyan media note that Jambojet operated only a fraction of its scheduled services on Monday, August 31, with just 2 of 55 flights departing during the height of the disruption.
The airline has framed the current phase as a recovery period rather than an immediate return to pre strike punctuality. Available notices stress that schedules remain fluid and that the process of re accommodating stranded passengers, repositioning aircraft and securing revised departure slots will continue to affect departure and arrival times over the coming days.
Travellers are being advised through public statements and media coverage to closely monitor flight status channels instead of assuming that previously issued departure times will hold as the system stabilises.
Backlog Management and Passenger Support Measures
As the backlog of disrupted flights ripples through the network, Jambojet has outlined several short term measures intended to ease the impact on affected customers. According to Kenyan news reports, the airline is offering free rebooking options for passengers whose journeys were interrupted by the strike related delays and cancellations.
These reports indicate that travellers can change their travel dates without incurring additional charges, subject to seat availability on new itineraries. The approach mirrors steps taken by other airlines in similar disruption events, aiming to restore confidence among passengers while the operation remains under pressure.
Jambojet has also signalled a reliance on multiple communication channels to manage expectations, with publicly available information pointing to status updates being shared via SMS, email and social media for customers already in the system. Such messaging is intended to reduce unnecessary trips to the airport and to give passengers advance notice of altered departure times or aircraft changes.
Industry coverage suggests that the process of rebooking and reaccommodating delayed travellers can extend beyond the official end of a strike, as airlines balance the need to clear backlogs against the requirement to operate newly scheduled flights. For a short haul carrier such as Jambojet, that can involve rapid turnarounds at busy regional airports where infrastructure is also under strain.
Strike Origins and Wider Sector Impact
The most recent round of disruption stemmed from a two day industrial action by aviation workers tied to the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, which affected air traffic control functions and other airport services. Coverage from regional and international outlets describes the strike as part of a longer running dispute over staffing, compensation and workplace conditions at key aviation agencies and companies.
The walkout led to widespread delays and cancellations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, along with knock on effects at airports in Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret. Kenya Airways and Jambojet were among the carriers most visibly affected, with passengers reporting prolonged queues, extended waiting times for information and instances of overnight disruption.
The industrial action ended after the union and government representatives reached a return to work agreement that also involved the Kenya Airports Authority, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Jambojet. Published summaries of the deal suggest that negotiations over core grievances, including recognition and representation issues, will continue even as normal operations are gradually restored.
Observers of the Kenyan aviation sector note that this was at least the second major strike affecting air traffic in 2026, underlining how sensitive airline operations remain to labour relations among airport and regulator staff. Each round of disruption typically results in multi day recovery periods as carriers re align aircraft, crews and departure slots.
Jambojet Distances Staff From Industrial Action
Even as it works through operational challenges, Jambojet has sought to draw a clear line between its own workforce and the strike that triggered the latest wave of disruption. Prior public statements referenced in Kenyan business media show the airline emphasising that it does not have a formal collective bargaining arrangement with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union that would make its employees party to the union’s strike notices.
In earlier communications issued when a strike notice was first raised, Jambojet indicated that it expected to continue operations and framed the labour dispute primarily as one involving aviation agencies and other employers. That positioning has carried through in current reporting, with the carrier presenting the delays as a consequence of broader sector actions rather than an internal walkout by its staff.
This separation is significant for the airline’s brand, as it seeks to reassure passengers and corporate customers that its own crews and ground teams remain available and focused on restoring services. Publicly available coverage suggests that Jambojet has repeatedly highlighted the efforts of its operational staff to assist travellers during the disruption and to minimise further inconvenience.
At the same time, the airline remains a signatory to the wider return to work framework, indicating that it is part of ongoing discussions aimed at addressing systemic issues across the aviation ecosystem. That dual role requires balancing a narrative of operational resilience with participation in sector wide negotiations that may shape future labour relations.
What Travellers Can Expect in the Coming Days
For passengers booked on Jambojet in the days immediately following the strike, travel conditions are likely to remain variable. Media reports referencing airline advisories note that some flights are expected to depart close to schedule, while others may see rolling delays as the carrier prioritises certain routes and works through clusters of disrupted bookings.
Backlogs typically manifest in higher than usual seat demand on specific sectors, particularly those linking Nairobi with coastal and regional destinations. In such cases, passengers who are flexible with their travel dates or times may find it easier to secure rebooked seats, especially where the airline is waiving change fees but must still manage limited capacity.
Travel industry analysts often point out that the operational effects of a strike can persist for several days beyond the formal resumption of work, particularly where aircraft and crews are not positioned at their usual bases. For Jambojet, which operates a fleet of turboprop aircraft on dense regional routes, even minor schedule variations can cascade through the network.
Travellers are therefore being encouraged, through publicly available notices and news coverage, to allow extra time at the airport, monitor their flight status closely and make use of self service options where possible. With free rebooking options in place for affected customers, passengers also have some flexibility to adjust their plans while the carrier works to normalise operations.
Jambojet offers free rebooking as flights resume after strike
Passengers warned of delays as airlines clear backlog after strike