RwandAir has cancelled flights between Kigali and Nairobi for a second consecutive day, citing continuing operational constraints affecting air traffic control services at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The airline announced on Monday that flights WB452 and WB453, scheduled to operate on August 31, 2026, would not fly as challenges affecting air traffic control services at Kenya's main international airport continued.
The cancellations followed a similar disruption on Sunday, when RwandAir cancelled flights WB402 and WB403 on August 30, also citing difficulties involving air traffic control services at JKIA.
The consecutive cancellations underline the growing impact of the disruption on regional air travel, with airlines operating into and out of Nairobi forced to adjust schedules, delay services or cancel flights.
In its latest update, RwandAir said it was continuing to assess the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities.
“Due to ongoing operational constraints affecting air traffic control services at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), flights WB452/WB453 on 31 August 2026 have been cancelled. We continue to closely monitor and assess the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities,” the airline said.
The Kigali-Nairobi route is an important regional connection linking two major East African aviation hubs. Kigali serves as RwandAir's home base and a growing transit centre for passengers travelling across Africa and beyond, while Nairobi is one of the region's busiest aviation gateways.
Disruption on the route can therefore affect not only passengers travelling directly between Kenya and Rwanda, but also travellers using Kigali or Nairobi as connecting points for other regional and international destinations.
RwandAir said passengers affected by Monday's cancellations would be accommodated on alternative flights as capacity became available.
“Affected passengers will be rebooked on the next available flight, and our teams remain committed to minimizing disruption to travel plans. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused,” the airline said.
The latest cancellations come amid wider disruption to Kenya's aviation system caused by industrial action and a go-slow that has affected air traffic control operations.
A Notice to Airmen(NOTAM) issued by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority warned that traffic to and from the Nairobi Flight Information Region, including major airports, could be subject to delays because of a staff go-slow linked to industrial action.
The disruption has affected airlines operating domestic, regional and international flights, with carriers facing difficulties maintaining normal schedules as aircraft await the clearances required for safe departures and arrivals.
Jambojet, Kenya's domestic carrier, reported earlier on Monday that it had operated only two of its 55 scheduled flights by 11:30am because of the disruption.
The airline said several other flights were awaiting clearance, demonstrating the scale of the operational challenges affecting aircraft movements.
Other airlines have also reported delays and cancellations linked to the constraints at JKIA and within air traffic control services.
The aviation disruption follows an industrial dispute involving workers at key institutions within Kenya's aviation sector. A previous strike threat had been suspended following negotiations, but industrial action resumed after workers raised concerns over unresolved labour grievances.
The situation has placed significant pressure on JKIA, which handles a large proportion of Kenya's international passenger and cargo traffic and serves as a major connection point for East and Central African aviation.
RwandAir had issued its first cancellation notice on Sunday after suspending WB402 and WB403.
“Due to ongoing air traffic control challenges at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), flights WB402/WB403/30 August 2026 have been cancelled. Affected passengers will be rebooked on the next available flight, and our team is working to minimize any disruption to their travel plans,” the airline said.
The cancellation of another pair of flights on Monday indicates that the operational difficulties had continued for more than a day.
Air traffic control is central to the management of aircraft movements, coordinating departures, arrivals and flights operating through controlled airspace. Disruption to these services can quickly affect airline schedules, aircraft rotations and passenger connections across several airports.
RwandAir said it would continue monitoring the situation with the relevant authorities and did not indicate when the affected Nairobi services would return to normal.
Passengers booked on the cancelled flights are expected to be contacted and rebooked on the next available services as the airline works to minimise further disruption.
The carrier apologised for the inconvenience, as uncertainty over the duration of the disruption continued to affect travellers and airline operations across the region.