Flight delay at Moi International Airport in Mombasa angers passengers
Terminal 2 at Moi International Airport in Mombasa which houses Jambojet offices. Angry passengers Saturday protested the postponement of a flight that was to take them to Nairobi. The passengers finally flew out on Sunday morning. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Police were on Saturday called to calm down irate passengers protesting the postponement of their flight at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
But sources told the Nation that the officers refused to disperse the passengers and instead accused the airline, Jambojet, of trying to use them to settle customer service issues.
“Why should we intervene when they booked passengers knowing very well they had no plane to transport them?” sources said.
But later on, Airport OCPD Charles Owiri spoke with the passengers and they agreed to travel the following day.
Speaking by phone, Mr Owiri said the plane that was supposed to take the passengers to Nairobi developed mechanical problems.
“An airplane is not a bus that you can just board even if there is a problem.
“There must be clinical checks and repairs before it can take off for a flight,” he said, adding that he personally oversaw the passengers board the flight Sunday morning.
But when the Nation visited Jambojet's office in Terminal 2 at 11.20am, a passenger was haggling with an airline agent for a refund of his money.
The agent refused to comment on the issue.
“The only (person) authorised to speak to you is the chief executive officer’s personal assistant,” she said.
Efforts to get a comment from Jambojet were unsuccessful.
