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Uganda Airlines is warning passengers travelling between Entebbe and Nairobi to brace for delays and possible schedule changes as an air traffic control strike in Kenya continues to disrupt operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
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Carrier Flags Operational Risks on Entebbe–Nairobi Corridor
According to publicly available travel advisories, Uganda’s national carrier has highlighted “air traffic control operational challenges” at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as a key risk factor for its services. The airline’s notice, issued on August 31, 2026, cautions that the situation may affect flights operating into and out of the Kenyan capital, including the busy Entebbe–Nairobi route.
Reports indicate that Uganda Airlines has advised customers that the challenges at JKIA could lead to delays on services to and from Nairobi. The carrier is encouraging passengers to monitor their flight status closely and allow extra time at the airport, reflecting the knock-on impact of extended holding patterns, congestion on the ground, and revised departure slots.
Regional media coverage shows that some Uganda Airlines flights to Nairobi have already experienced disruption, including cancellations as airspace capacity fluctuates. For travelers connecting onward through JKIA to other African or intercontinental destinations, the warning underscores the risk of missed connections and longer journey times while the situation in Kenya stabilizes.
Kenya ATC Strike Paralyzes Key East African Hub
The Uganda Airlines advisory comes against the backdrop of a wider industrial dispute in Kenya that has affected air traffic control services and other aviation functions. Coverage from Kenyan and international outlets shows that aviation workers affiliated with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union launched industrial action beginning Sunday, August 30, 2026, slowing or halting movements at JKIA and other airports across the country.
Reports describe passengers stranded for hours at Nairobi’s main gateway as the go-slow and strike action disrupted flight schedules, with cancellations and significant delays reported on both domestic and international routes. As a primary regional hub for East Africa, any reduction in capacity at JKIA has quickly reverberated through neighboring markets, including Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and beyond.
Although union leaders and government representatives in Kenya have since reached a return-to-work understanding, local media note that disruptions have persisted into September 1 and 2 as airport operators and airlines work to normalize operations. The duration and intensity of the industrial action have left a substantial backlog of aircraft and passengers still being processed through the system.
Delays Linger Despite Call-Off of Industrial Action
Kenya Airways, which operates a significant share of movements at JKIA, has published travel alerts indicating that customers should expect continued delays even after the formal end of the strike. The carrier’s public updates describe efforts to clear a backlog of flights and gradually restore the normal schedule, with expectations that operations may only return to typical patterns from September 2, 2026, onward.
Additional reporting from Kenyan news outlets echoes that message, noting that aviation workers have resumed duties but that congestion on runways, at parking stands, and in terminal facilities is still affecting departures and arrivals. Passengers interviewed by local media have described overnight waits, last-minute gate changes, and uncertainty over rebooking options as airlines recalibrate their networks.
This slow recovery helps explain why Uganda Airlines and other regional carriers are maintaining a cautious tone in their advisories. Even with air traffic controllers back at work, slot availability, staffing levels across airport operations, and aircraft repositioning requirements mean that flight schedules remain vulnerable to rolling delays throughout the first days of September.
Impact on Passengers and Regional Connectivity
The combined effect of the Kenya ATC strike and subsequent recovery period is being felt across East Africa’s aviation and tourism sectors. Industry bodies cited in Nairobi-based coverage have warned that extended disruption at JKIA risks undermining the region’s reputation as a reliable hub, with consequences for passenger confidence, cargo flows, and time-sensitive business travel.
Travel organizations report a spike in schedule changes, missed connections, and rerouted itineraries as airlines adjust to constrained capacity in Kenyan airspace. For Uganda-bound travelers using Nairobi as a transit point, Uganda Airlines’ warning forms part of a broader pattern of advisories urging flexibility, including readiness to accept rebookings onto later flights or alternative routings where available.
Tourism stakeholders have also raised concerns about the potential financial impact on hotels, tour operators, and conference organizers relying on predictable air access through JKIA. While there is optimism that full operations will resume once flight backlogs are cleared, the episode has prompted calls for stronger contingency planning and dialogue mechanisms to prevent future disputes from spilling over into prolonged service disruptions.
What Travelers Should Do Now
Publicly available guidance from airlines and airport authorities suggests that affected passengers should take a proactive approach while the situation continues to evolve. Travelers booked on Uganda Airlines and other carriers serving Nairobi are being urged to verify their flight status through official websites or mobile apps on the day of travel and to keep contact details updated in their bookings so they can receive schedule change notifications.
Industry advisories also recommend arriving at airports earlier than usual to account for longer check-in and security queues, particularly for those with onward connections through JKIA. Where airlines permit, some travelers may be able to rebook without penalty or request refunds if their journeys are no longer feasible, although such options depend on individual fare rules and carrier policies.
For the coming days, published coverage indicates that operations at JKIA will likely remain in a recovery phase, with airlines gradually normalizing schedules while working through accumulated delays. Uganda Airlines’ warning serves as an early signal to its customers that patience and flexibility may be required when traveling on the Entebbe–Nairobi corridor until traffic flows at Kenya’s main hub fully stabilize.
AllAfrica coverage of Uganda Airlines Nairobi delay advisory
Kenya Airways travel alerts on JKIA disruptions