Surridge & Beecheno has represented/represents airlines including Pakistan International Airlines, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, British Airways, Thai Airways, Kenya Airways, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airlines, Pan American World Airways, Swiss International Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Gulf Air, Singapore Airlines, Ansett Australia, Malaysian Airlines, Vision Air, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Riyadh Air etc.
Notably, the Firm has successfully defended Air France in a suit before the Islamabad High Court for recovery of damages in the sum of PKR 420 million filed by Capital Travels, Air France’s General Sales Agent for north of Pakistan for a period of over 33 years. The claim against Air France was dismissed by a judgment on 14th March 2016.
The Firm has provided services ranging from licensing, certification assistance, including obtaining permits for aircraft operations, air carrier certifications, and airport approvals. Additionally, we provide legal counsel on aviation transactions, including aircraft acquisitions, leasing agreements, and financing arrangements including for engines. We also offer representation in aviation-related disputes, such as accidents, liability claims, and insurance matters.
The firm regularly represents the following aircraft manufacturers and lessors and firms:
- Abacus International Pte Ltd. and Hamilton Sundstrand;
- AerCap BV;
- Aero Capital Solutions;
- AerSale;
- Airbus Industries GIE;
- Airbus Leasing;
- Airbus S.A.S;
- Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services;
- Barlow, Lyde Gilbert;
- Beaumont & Son / Clyde & Co;
- Boeing Capital Corporation;
- FTAI Aviation;
- Gates & Partners and Milbank;
- GE Aviation;
- International Lease Finance Corporation;
- Nordic Aviation Capital;
- Pegasus Aviation Finance Company;
- Pioneer Aviation;
- Searl Aviation;
- SES Fly Certain;
- SMBC Aviation Capital;
- SMBC Aviation Capital & Investors;
- Three Hundred Freighter (Bermuda) Ltd;
- Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. and
- Virtual Aviation Ireland Limited.
Few of the notable caselaw involving our firm includes:
- Gerry’s International v. Aeroflot Russian International Airline decided by the full bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan and reported as 2018 SCMR 662:
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in a case before the High Court of Sindh involving theft of valuable consignment and the judgment in the case discussed in detail all the relevant provisions of Warsaw Convention and their applicability in Pakistan. This judgment has been reported as PIA v. Muhammad Younis PLD 1976 Karachi 184;
- our Firm defended British Airways in a denied boarding claim in which the High Court of Sindh passed a landmark judgment and upheld sector-wise liability of actual carriers based on their interline agreements. This judgment has been reported as PLD 2004 Karachi 234;
- Our Firm defended Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Dragon Airlines in a series of cases stemming from loss of cargo during the terrorist attack on Jinnah International Airport Karachi in which the Firm successfully argued armed conflict exclusion to avoid liability of carriers towards cargo insurers. This judgment of the High Court of Sindh has been reported as 2021 CLC 824;
- Parveen Mehmood v. Thai Airways International before the High Court of Sindh, reported as SBLR 2021 Sindh 2155;
- Ahmad Mian Siddiqui v. Kenya Airways Limited before the High Court of Sindh, reported as SBLR 2017 Sindh 76;