Kenya Airways has filed a case with the Nairobi High Court over the non-payment of up to KES330 million (US$3.8 million) in compensation owed to it by the Kenya Airport Authority (KAA), after a fire at the airport in 2013 that caused considerable losses to the airline.
Kenya Airways incurred costs over flight re-routings; passenger care, in which hundreds of booked travellers had to be put up in hotels at the carrier’s expense; and loss of equipment.
The fire at the airport caused considerable damage as a number of fire protection and extinguisher systems were found to be unserviceable or defective. Kenya Airways is one of several businesses based at the airport that saw premises damaged or destroyed, all of whom are expected to seek compensation.
Local media quoted a source at the airport who stated that “[KAA] should just face up and pay. The fire report is damning and gives them no room to deny their liability and responsibility. The investigators pointed out a lot of failures on the part of KAA, and if a life had been lost it would surely be criminal negligence and murder charges could be pressed. They were just plain lucky there were no casualties.”
Kenya Airways seeks High Court ruling over unpaid compensation from Nairobi Airport authority after 2013 fire
