Most of the Nigerian passengers caught up in the flight disruption at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, have returned home, following a protest over what they described as poor handling of the situation by Kenya Airways.
The passengers had been stranded at the airport for several hours on Monday after an industrial action by air traffic controllers disrupted flight operations across Kenya.
Videos from the airport showed heated exchanges between some Nigerian passengers and Kenya Airways officials, as the affected travellers demanded assistance and explanations for the prolonged delays.
Among those affected was Bolaji Tunji, an aide to former Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu. Tunji reportedly expressed concern over the delay, saying he had expected to arrive in Lagos by 11 a.m. after travelling from the United Kingdom.
He also raised concerns about the welfare of a sick child who was among the stranded passengers and alleged that affected Nigerians were not receiving adequate attention from the airline.
Kenya Airways attributed the disruption to the air traffic controllers’ strike, saying it had resulted in delays of more than six hours and created a backlog that forced the rescheduling and cancellation of some flights.
The airline advised passengers to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport. The airline also offered penalty free changes and rescheduling for affected travellers.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, said it intervened after receiving complaints from the affected Nigerians. Its spokesman, Michael Achimugu, said he contacted the Kenya Airways country manager, who assured him that the passengers would be attended to.
With most of the affected Nigerians now back in the country, attention is shifting to how airlines and aviation authorities can better manage passenger welfare during such disruptions.
Industry experts warn that prolonged or poorly managed disruptions could disrupt businesses, deepen financial losses, and, in extreme cases, pose serious risks to passengers whose medical or other urgent needs require timely travel.
(Follow AIT News on WhatsApp, AfricaIndependentTV on YouTube, ait_online on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter), and officialait on TikTok, Instagram and Threads)
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
