You, Gillie Belsham
& Ince, in any case

06-03-2020 / Aviation & Travel

Impact The COVID-19 outbreak has already had a severe impact on the aviation sector. “Air traffic has collapsed on key Asian routes and it is rippling throughout the air transport network globally, even between countries without major outbreaks of COVID-19.”[1] Flybe yesterday announced its collapse, in part it says due to the effect of coronavirus upon bookings. Airlines are experiencing a serious decline in demand: “one carrier has taken a 26% reduction in passenger numbers across its entire operation and a major carrier has reported booking to Italy collapsing to zero with customers demanding refunds. Many carriers are reporting 50% no-shows across several markets, future bookings are softening and carriers are reacting with flight cancellation, crew being given unpaid leave, freezing of pay increases and plans for aircraft to be grounded.”[2]

28-06-2019 / Energy & Infrastructure

In Triple Point Technology, Inc. v PTT Public Company Limited [2019] EWCA Civ 230, the Court of Appeal has clarified a line of conflicting authorities on the question of whether liquidated damages can be claimed following the termination of a contract. The Court of Appeal held that the relevant provision did not, on its wording, apply where the contract was terminated and the original contractor failed to complete the works. It is a salient reminder of the need to construe liquidated damages clauses using ordinary principles of interpretation, rather than proceeding on the assumption that liquidated damages will be payable post-termination.

04-08-2016 / Aviation & Travel

The UK’s referendum vote to leave the European Union is likely to have a far-reaching impact on the UK aviation industry. From a constitutional standpoint, the “Brexit” referendum is considered an expression of the electorate’s opinion; it is not by itself legally binding. Nevertheless, the ruling Conservative government has committed itself politically to put it into practice and to set in motion the process for the UK to withdraw from membership of the EU.

04-08-2016 / Aviation & Travel

The EU has produced a large body of regulations affecting the aviation industry, including rules concerning workers’ rights, data protection, competition law, safety, security, environmental protection, airline insolvency. and passenger rights.

04-08-2016 / Aviation & Travel

One solution for a UK carrier would be to restructure operations so as to meet the conditions of Regulation 1008. This would involve changes to the location of the airline’s principal place of business from the UK to a place in the EU and changes of its ownership structure to ensure that more than 50% of effective control is held by EU nationals.

04-08-2016 / Aviation & Travel

Under EU Parliament and Council Regulation 1008/2008 (“Regulation 1008”) no undertaking established in the Community is permitted to carry by air passengers, mail, and/or cargo for remuneration and or/hire unless it has been granted an operating licence. It confers the status of “Community carrier” to any airline that meets the conditions of the Regulation, which include: