KQ pilots fear for jobs as Jambojet leases plane, crew

Pilots working for Kenya Airways’ budget airline Jambojet want the carrier stopped from leasing flight crews to operate their Malindi, Lamu and Ukunda flights, arguing that the move could open the door to their sacking.

The Kenya Airlines Pilots Association (Kalpa) has filed a suit on behalf of the pilots in which it claims that Jambojet illegally signed a deal with DAC Aviation that will see the budget airline lease a plane and flight crew to operate the Coast routes.

Kalpa says the move may render Jambojet pilots redundant, as the budget airline also plans to use the aircraft in dispute on other routes. The pilots’ lobby also holds that Jambojet does not have the authority to enter into such an agreement as it does not have an Air Operator Certificate.

“The Jambojet pilots are in imminent risk of being rendered redundant by reasons of a wet lease agreement between Jambojet and DAC Aviation. Jambojet is not a licensed Air Operator Certificate holder hence is incapable of executing any wet lease agreements,” Kalpa says.

The suit is the latest to hit the national carrier’s operations, which has lately faced a strike threat after announcing plans to retire 10 senior pilots.

Jambojet CEO Willem Hondius last month announced while launching the Malindi, Lamu and Ukunda flights that the Dash 8 Q400 plane will be used for the three new routes, but will also be deployed on the budget airline’s Kisumu and Eldoret routes.

The low-cost airline hopes to tap into an anticipated increase in traffic on the three routes owing to the construction of the Sh455 billion port in Lamu.

Justice Helen Wasilwa on Monday stopped Jambojet from using the disputed aircraft until Thursday when the budget airline is expected to appear in court to argue its defence to the suit. Kenya Airways has also been enjoined in the suit.

READ: Kenya’s national carrier in deep cash crisis, goes for short term loans

The judge said she will give further directions on the temporary orders after hearing Kenya Airways and Jambojet’s defences.

The airlines were not represented at Monday’s hearing. Kalpa also argues that Jambojet, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, did not consult it before entering into the wet lease agreement with DAC Aviation, contrary to normal procedure.

Kalpa says allowing the budget airline to lease both an aircraft and flight crew will affect an ongoing conciliation with Kenya Airways over working conditions for Jambojet pilots.

The lobby wants Kenya Airways to extend an agreement for pilots’ working conditions to Jambojet personnel, while the national carrier insists that the lobby should initiate separate talks with the budget airline.

“The action by Kenya Airways and Jambojet in attempting to introduce new aircraft and crew during pendency of the conciliation is manifestation of ill will and an attempt at frustrating any conciliation process thereby hindering fair labour practice,” Kalpa lawyer Samwel Mohochi added.

Kalpa says Kenya Airways has several planes that are not in use, and could have been deployed to the new Jambojet routes.

The lobby wants the orders barring Jambojet from using the disputed plane extended until the talks currently before the Labour Commissioner are concluded.

“The respondents are at liberty to deploy any other aircraft to their fleet during the pendency of the conciliation process,” Mr Mohochi added.

The two parties will appear in court today in another suit in which Kenya Airways wants its pilots stopped from downing their tools.

Kenya Airways filed the suit last month after accusing Kalpa of calling for the strike without prior notice.

Kalpa has in response denied calling any strike, holding that the pilots have just withdrawn the goodwill extended to their employer which included working during off-duty and leave days.

Kalpa added that the dispute is part of the conciliation talks that should be exhausted before moving to court.