Kenya’s aviation workers have suspended a strike that disrupted flights for two days at Nairobi’s main airport and other airports across the country.

The workers’ union on Tuesday signed an agreement with the government to immediately resume operations following negotiations over a pay dispute and other grievances that triggered the industrial action.

Hundreds of passengers had been stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a major regional transport hub, since Sunday when the nationwide strike began.

The workers were seeking improved working conditions and the implementation of an earlier agreement reached with the government.

“We are simply calling off our strike action and pleading with our members to begin the process of normalising operations, restoring services,” Moss Ndiema, the head of the workers’ union, told a press conference on Tuesday.

“For those who are on duty, we are asking them to begin clearing flights.”

Transport Minister Davis Chirchir said the government and the union had reached an agreement on measures to address the grievances that triggered the strike.

“It’s unfortunate that we had to get here but we are out of it, and it’s unfortunate because the loss to the economy, which we don’t yet have the numbers, is huge.”

On Monday, passengers scheduled to travel through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport were left stranded, with some spending the night in and around the check-in areas while waiting for updates.

Kenya Airways reported delays of more than six hours, while the growing backlog of flights forced the airline to cancel some departures.

The airline apologised for the disruption and said passengers wishing to change or reschedule their flights could do so without incurring a penalty.

Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 also showed numerous flights that had been delayed, cancelled or diverted.