Emirates cancels Nairobi flights after worker strike

Emirates has cancelled flights to and from Nairobi following a worker strike at the Kenyan airport.

Flights EK719 and EK721, both scheduled to depart from Dubai on Wednesday, September 11, have been cancelled, along with flights EK720 and EK 722 departing from Nairobi.

In a statement Emirates said: "Customers connecting on flights to Nairobi will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.

We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers. Emirates is monitoring the situation closely.

Affected customers who have booked with travel agents should contact them for alternative travel arrangements. Customers who have booked directly with Emirates may contact their local office for rebooking options."

The cancellations come as workers at Kenya's international airport in Nairobi went on strike over a potential deal for India's Adani Group to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for 30 years.

Emirates flight from Dubai to Mombassa departed as planned on Wednesday morning and landed at 1:27pm local time, eight minutes ahead of schedule.

The Kenya Aviation Workers Union, which represents airport workers, said the proposed agreement announced in July would lead to job losses and bring in non-Kenyan workers.

Kenya's government has said the airport is operating above capacity and needs modernising but that it is not for sale.

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