It is reported that 21 captains and 18 First Officers have received letters to the effect that they are being redeployed to the Ethiopian national carrier.
However, the news has not gone down well with the targeted officers, who have been given upto Tuesday April 12, to acknowledge their redeployment.
The Nation reports that Kenya Airline Pilots Association (Kalpa) subsequently set a meeting to deliberate on the next move for its members and is likely to move to court challenging the move.
The targeted pilots are among personnel of a fleet of Boeing 777 planes that have remained grounded for close to half a year now.
A letter sent to the pilots by Acting Head of Employee Relationship Murage Latiffa Cherono read in part: “As you are aware, the company has in the past few years experienced great business challenges that have led to poor financial results. As such, there has been a decline in the expected pace of growth of the network and subsequent reduction in fleet size including the B777 fleet, which you operate. This development led to most of the B777 pilots being underutilized in flying duties over the last several months and has therefore necessitated the company, as part of Operation Pride turnaround programme, to look for alternative deployment opportunities for you.”
Those who apply for the lateral transfer will work for Ethiopian Airlines for three years. They will however, have an option to rejoin Kenya Airways if the ongoing turnaround strategy is successful.
The carrier has been flying in turbulent skies struggling to remain afloat after registering huge losses in two consecutive years.
KQ had earlier announced plans to retrench some 600 of its staff to reduce its employee headcount in a bid to improve profitability.
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The carrier is also reported to have sold off its morning landing slot at London’s Heathrow airport for an estimated Sh7.5 Billion to Oman Air. Oman Air have also accepted a deal with KQ to lease two of it's Boeing 787-8s . There are also plans to reduce the fleet from the current 52 planes to 36.
Read also: Kenya Airways Decides to Sell Planes
Group Managing Director Mbuvi Ngunze has reassured the public that the financial troubles the carrier is facing will be addressed soon.
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