We Don’t Earn Sh1.6 Million Per Month, Kenya Airways’ Pilots Say

Kenya Airways’ pilots have denied claims by the airline’s CEO Sebastian Mokosz that they earn Sh1.6 million monthly.

In a report submitted to the National Assembly’s Transport Committee, KQ noted that the huge pilots’ salaries were some of the reasons why the national airline is struggling financially.

Mikosz claimed that KQ pilots are among the best paid in the continent and in the world.

“A KQ Captain earns on average 11 times more than the average employee in other high salary sectors and 29 more than the private sector average. Unfortunately, the pilots’ remuneration is not in line with their productivity,” Mikosz said in a report submitted to the House Committee.

However, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) through its secretary-general Mureithi Nyaga has refuted the figures by KQ, stating that they earn less Sh500,000 per month. 

Nyaga has further explained that at least 130 pilots left KQ to join Middle East airlines in search of greener pastures.

The official reveals that the departure of the pilots has left the national carrier with 430 pilots, a deficit of 200 pilots.

Nyaga points out that the financial woes facing KQ cannot be attributed to pilots’ wages, but are as a result of poor management, high cost of ticketing and high expatriates’ salaries.

Nyaga, who appeared before the National Assembly Transport Committee, also says KQ is on the verge of losing a big number of its engineers who are being targeted by rival airlines.

“Our members have moved to the Middle East airlines who are offering better packages. Why are they not turning down the offer if they are the best paid by KQ? poses Nyaga.

Nyaga discloses that pilots flying the Boeing earn a gross salary of Sh483,350 per month while those flying Embraer pocket Sh407,916.

“The figures the CEO stated are exaggerated. I am not aware where the CEO got the Ksh1.6 million he was telling you about,” says Nyaga.