KQ Seeks Ministry Approval to Be Exempted from Mandatory Quarantine

Kenya Airways has urged the government to exempt its staff from coronavirus rules, to avoid the carrier’s crew being sent to mandatory quarantine once they return from overseas trips, in a procedure that outlines crew safety which is awaiting the approval of the Ministry of Transport.

This move comes as KQ experiences a shortage of flight staff thus grounding its cargo planes.

The national carrier has 283 cabin crew in mandatory quarantine, costing the firm Sh80 million in occupancy bills.

According to Kenya Airways chief executive, Allan Kilavuka said the issue of quarantine had instilled fear in their employees when they see colleagues held after flying.

“The protocol that we have developed highlights how we shall ensure that our crew will follow strict guidelines that will protect them from contracting the disease. It shows how we are going to protect our members,” said Mr. Kilavuka in an interview with Business Daily.

Some of the measures in the protocol include checks on the crew before and after leaving the country, the use of full-body protective gear, thorough disinfection of the equipment and controlled movement while in foreign countries.

“When some of our staff see the way their colleagues are being treated, they fear to be handled in the same manner. That is why this protocol will be important by giving them assurance of not being handled in the same way,” he added.

Kenya had reported 270 confirmed cases and a total of 14 deaths from the coronavirus. One of the victims was a Kenya Airways pilot.

It is still not clear how many airline staff are among the confirmed cases. Initially, KQ had 400 cabin crew in mandatory quarantine.

Kenya Airways has slightly over 30 planes, mainly passenger aircraft. The carrier is betting on cargo shipment via the passenger planes, especially for the long haul, amid a rise in demand for freight, notably to Europe.

Already some local freight carriers such as Astral Aviation, which still flies to Europe, have taken measures to ensure that its crew does not leave the aircraft once they get to their destination to minimize the chances of infection.