English Commercial Court determines that a state-owned airline is not entitled to be served in accordance with the State Immunity Act

In AELF MSN 242, LLC (a Puerto Rico limited liability company) v De Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. D.B.A. Surinam Airways [2022] EWHC 544 (Comm), the English Commercial Court (the “Court“) considered whether the national flag carrier of Suriname (“SLM“) was entitled to be served with proceedings in accordance with s12(1) of the State Immunity Act 1978 (the … Read more

ENGLISH HIGH COURT STAYS COURT PROCEEDINGS IN FAVOUR OF ARBITRATION AND INTERPRETS CONFLICTING DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS

In Helice Leasing S.A.S v PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) TBK [2021] EWHC 99 (Comm), the English High Court interpreted seemingly conflicting dispute resolution provisions in an aircraft operating lease (the “Lease”). The Lease included an arbitration clause providing for “any dispute” to be resolved by the London Court of International Arbitration (“LCIA”) and gave the lessor an … Read more

EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement – implications for Aviation

The new trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and UK (the “Agreement”) contains a chapter governing the EU/UK aviation relationship, reflecting the EU’s intention to comprehensively address that relationship within the scope of the envisaged partnership between the EU and UK. A brief overview of the key provisions follows below. The Agreement also establishes … Read more

Will COVID Frustrate an Aircraft Lease?

The widespread disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to renewed interest in potential bases for avoiding contractual obligations. However, arguing in English law that an aircraft lease has been frustrated by the consequences of pandemic, may be unlikely to succeed. Read more

Welcome!

Welcome to “Aviation Finance notes”, Herbert Smith Freehills’ aviation finance know-how and market intelligence blog. We are delighted to be launching this blog where you will find regular updates on the latest developments in international aviation finance. Here, we will be posting a series of short articles, videos and podcasts engaging with current issues, trends … Read more