Aviation & Aerospace

Operating through a single global practice group, Clyde & Co is widely acknowledged to be the world’s premier aviation law firm.

A broad and unique perspective on the aviation and aerospace industry

The aviation and aerospace sectors have seen a tremendous amount of change in a relatively short space of time. It has never been more important to not only navigate existing and emerging risks, but to capitalise on the opportunities that are arising in this evolving and expanding area. 

As well as working on many of the precedent setting legal cases in the industry, many of our team have experience of working for government regulators, in-house for airlines, as aeronautical engineers, aircraft and powerplant mechanics and pilots so we see these issues through our clients’ eyes. We put that industry knowledge to work to get deals done, solve claims, manage and respond to investigations, navigate through hearings and manage incidents.


Key risks and opportunities for our clients around the world

That is where our deep and broad industry knowledge comes in. As well as helping you navigate traditional aviation and aerospace specific risks, our global team understands the challenges and opportunities across every aspect of doing business within these sectors, including regulatory, financing, leasing, real estate, employment, data protection, intellectual property, passenger, baggage and cargo claims, as well as major losses. We are also proudly at the forefront of practice in the space and satellite insurance market, and are a leading authority on the regulation of drones.

Through our interconnected global approach, we offer rapid access to expertise wherever you operate. We can help you navigate these risks, and deliver guidance as your partner, in every aspect of doing business across this truly global and vital industry.

Our Aviation Work

  • All
  • Africa
  • Asia Pacific
  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • North America
  • UK & Europe
  • Acquisition and Delivery of New Aircraft

    Advising an airline on aircraft procurement, from drafting responses to manufacturers for proposals, sourcing and acquisition of aircraft, drafting specifications on the fitting out of aircraft, delivery issues, taking delivery of the aircraft, and advising on contracts with providers of maintenance services to the aircraft.

    United Kingdom

    Airline E-ticket sales

    Advising various airlines and travel operators on their arrangements regarding the online sale of tickets and related payments.

    United Kingdom

    Airport Fuel Supply Agreements

    Advising an international oil company on its fuel supply agreements with different European airports.

    Germany

    Acquisition of company owning the business and operations at Fowlmere Aerodrome

    Advising on the acquisition of a company owning the business and operations at Fowlmere Aerodrome, Cambridge, including certain aircraft, to form part of the client’s flying school business, the British Aerobatic Academy.

    United Kingdom

    Sale of the fuelling and defueling provided at Stansted Airport

    Advising a consortium of five international energy companies in relation to the sale of Stansted Intoplane Company Limited (the fuelling and defueling provider at Stansted Airport) to an Italian jet fuel handling company.

    United Kingdom

    Stansted Airport fuelling provider sale

    Acting for the sellers in relation to the sale of Stanstead Intoplane Company Limited (the fuelling and defueling provider at Stansted Airport) to Levorato Marcevaggi S.r.l. an Italian jet fuel handling company.

    United Kingdom

    The world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Advising Volocopter GmbH, a German urban air mobility company, on the world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Saudi Arabia

    Aircraft Supplier Contract Arrangements

    Advising a supplier of aircraft seats and galley equipment on all aspects of its contractual arrangements with its customers.

    United Kingdom

    Nairobi total loss

    Acting for insurers on Nairobi total loss of aircraft on departure from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (2014)

    Kenya

    Nepal Airlines chartered flight crash

    Advising insurers in respect of the chartered flight to Jomsom from Pokhara which crashed on the banks of Kaligandaki river near the airport after it skidded off the runway while making a turn.

    Nepal
  • Nairobi total loss

    Acting for insurers on Nairobi total loss of aircraft on departure from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (2014)

    Kenya

    Royal Air Maroc: award-winning aircraft financing

    Acting on the AFIC-supported French tax lease financing of one Boeing 737-8 aircraft and one Boeing 787-9 aircraft with BNP Paribas.  This transaction won the following awards: Global Transport Finance 2018 Aircraft Tax Lease of the Year and Airline Economics Aviation 100 Middle East & Africa Editor’s Deal of the Year 2018.

    Morocco

    Yemenia Airways flight 626 accident

    Advising insurers in respect of over 2500 passenger claims following Yemenia Airways Airbus accident on approach to runway, causing one fatality.

    Comoros

    Tanzania regulations

    Advising CHC Helicopter on its complying with aviation regulatory requirements in Tanzania.

    Tanzania

    Complex Nigerian aircraft recovery

    Advising reinsures on resolution of complex Nigerian aircraft recovery claim (2013).

    Nigeria

    Repair claim regarding helicopter accident

    Acting for Insurers in respect of a repair claim arising from a helicopter accident in Ghana (2010)

    Ghana

    Allied Air Flight 111 crash

    Advising insurers on an Allied Air Boeing 727 cargo plane which overran the runway on landing and broke through the airport perimeter fence causing fatalities and multiple ground injuries.

    Ghana

    The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Common-use Terminal.

    Advising the Airport's Local User Board on its agreement for the provision of Common Use Terminal equipment and the provision of Common Use Self-Service kiosks at Kenya's main airport.

    Kenya

    Kenya Airways flight KQ507 accident

    Dealing with the legal liability claims arising out of an accident to Kenya Airways flight KQ507 which crashed immediately after takeoff from Douala International Airport.

    Kenya

    Afriqiyah Airways accident in Tripoli

    Advising Afriqiyah Airways and its insurers and reinsurers following the accident on flight from Johannesburg to Tripoli where aircraft touched down short of the runway, broke up and caught fire.

    Libya
  • Nepal Airlines chartered flight crash

    Advising insurers in respect of the chartered flight to Jomsom from Pokhara which crashed on the banks of Kaligandaki river near the airport after it skidded off the runway while making a turn.

    Nepal

    Pakistan International Airlines flight 8303

    Handing the proceedings in relation to Pakistan International Airlines A320 flight 8303 from Lahore to Karachi Pakistan, crashed in Karachi on 22 May 2020.

    Pakistan

    Emirates passenger injury claim

    • Acting on behalf of Emirates in defending and ultimately resolving a claim in the Supreme Court of Victoria in connection with allegations of cabin crew misconduct causing serious injury to passenger.
    Australia

    Aviation complex regulatory advice

    • Providing legal advice to the Commonwealth Department of Environment on the legal issues and risks associated with ‘AAD Flight Following’ that is, the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department (AAD) communications operators providing third party relay communications to Airservices Australia for AAD and non-AAD aircraft in the Antarctic region.
    Australia

    Australian Airlines acquiring an aircraft on an operating lease

    Acting for the lenders financing the acquisition of an A34-300 on operating lease.

    Australia

    Catering company contamination claim

    Representing the Australian arm of a multi-national catering company in connection with an alleged listeria contamination, involving an indemnity claim by the carrier in respect of 180 plus claims pursued in Australia, and an investigation into the downstream supply chain.

    Australia

    Hong Kong Airlines aircraft acquisition

    Acting for the lender, financing the acquisition of two new 737-800s subject to Hong Kong Airlines operating leases.

    Hong Kong

    Air New Zealand aircraft damage recovery claim

    Acting for Air New Zealand against Manchester Airport’s handling company in respect of damage to one of its aircraft, resulting in a rare successful recovery against a handling company.

    New Zealand

    Sri Lankan Airlines finance lease structure

    Advising on the financing of an A320 simulator for Sri Lankan Airlines by way of a finance lease structure from a Dutch credit provider.

    Sri Lanka
  • Reinsurance issues

    Advising reinsurers on issues arising from Mexican helicopter loss (2014)

    Mexico
  • The world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Advising Volocopter GmbH, a German urban air mobility company, on the world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Saudi Arabia

    Delivery financing of 12 Airbus A320 family aircraft

    Acting for Air Arabia in relation to the delivery financing for 6 Airbus A320 aircraft and the leasing of 6 Airbus A321neo aircraft.

    United Arab Emirates

    EgyptAir

    Retained by Insurers in defence of EgyptAir that crashed into the sea off the coast of Egypt enroute from Paris to Cairo.

    Egypt

    Royal Jordanian: commercial aircraft financing

    Representing Royal Jordanian Airlines in the financing and delivery of 2 Boeing B787-8 aircraft with DVB Bank.

    Jordan

    Qatar dispute

    Representing an AOC holder in a regulatory dispute with the Civil Aviation Authority in Qatar.

    Qatar

    Qatar aircraft leasing

    Provided Qatari law advice to a leading lessor in connection with financing and leasing of aircraft and engines.

    Qatar

    National airlines restructuring in the GCC

    Advising a national airline in the GCC area on the restructuring of its workforce and the resulting redundancies.

    Saudi Arabia

    Leasing and delivery for Saudi low-cost carrier

    Acting for a Saudi based low cost carrier in connection with the leasing and deliveries of A320 and A330 aircraft.

    Saudi Arabia

    UAE Airport Free Zone

    Advising a regional airport free zone in conducting a market and financial feasibility study for a planned airport city, including an industrial hub. The study included conducting a detail demand and supply analysis based upon direct and indirect demand.

    United Arab Emirates

    Engine lease transaction

    Advising ELFC in connection with engine lease transactions to several UAE airlines.

    United Arab Emirates
  • Acklins Blue Cessna 402 crash

    Advising insurers regarding the Cessna 402 aircraft accident which crashed into Lake Killarney shortly after take-off from Nassau-Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS), Bahamas on a flight to San Salvador causing multiple fatalities.

    Bahamas

    Contaminated fuel claim in South America

    Representing an airport fuel services company in contaminated fuel claims by affected airlines

    United States

    Part 91 operations for Thai-owned Gulfstream 550

    Managed the stock sale, purchase agreement and formation of a new Florida corporation to operate multiple international aircraft management and aviation service agreements for a foreign owner of a Part 91 operation for a Gulfstream 550 in Thailand

    United States

    USD 21 million dollar fire defense

    Representing an airport fuel farm services provider in defense of a USD 21 million dollar claim related to airline disruptions

    United States

    Wage and hour class action

    Managing multi-state wage and hour class action litigation and coordinating nationwide HR wage and hour compliance audits for newly merged ground handling service company

    United States

    USD 4.2 billion airport expansion project construction contracts

    Reviewing and amending a suite of construction contracts for an airport expansion project valued at USD 4.2 billion.

    United States

    Virgin America aircraft acquisition

    Acting for the lenders, financing the acquisition of two A319-100s by way of operating lease.

    United States

    Asiana Airlines San Francisco Airport accident

    Boeing 777-200ER accident flying from Seoul, crashed on landing at San Francisco International Airport injuring 181 people and killing three others.

    United States
  • Airport Fuel Supply Agreements

    Advising an international oil company on its fuel supply agreements with different European airports.

    Germany

    Airline E-ticket sales

    Advising various airlines and travel operators on their arrangements regarding the online sale of tickets and related payments.

    United Kingdom

    Acquisition and Delivery of New Aircraft

    Advising an airline on aircraft procurement, from drafting responses to manufacturers for proposals, sourcing and acquisition of aircraft, drafting specifications on the fitting out of aircraft, delivery issues, taking delivery of the aircraft, and advising on contracts with providers of maintenance services to the aircraft.

    United Kingdom

    Acquisition of company owning the business and operations at Fowlmere Aerodrome

    Advising on the acquisition of a company owning the business and operations at Fowlmere Aerodrome, Cambridge, including certain aircraft, to form part of the client’s flying school business, the British Aerobatic Academy.

    United Kingdom

    Sale of the fuelling and defueling provided at Stansted Airport

    Advising a consortium of five international energy companies in relation to the sale of Stansted Intoplane Company Limited (the fuelling and defueling provider at Stansted Airport) to an Italian jet fuel handling company.

    United Kingdom

    Stansted Airport fuelling provider sale

    Acting for the sellers in relation to the sale of Stanstead Intoplane Company Limited (the fuelling and defueling provider at Stansted Airport) to Levorato Marcevaggi S.r.l. an Italian jet fuel handling company.

    United Kingdom

    Aircraft Supplier Contract Arrangements

    Advising a supplier of aircraft seats and galley equipment on all aspects of its contractual arrangements with its customers.

    United Kingdom

    Germanwings flight 9529

    Handling proceedings in Madrid, New York, Caracas, Melbourne and the UK in relation to Germanwings flight 9525 from Barcelona to Dusseldorf crashed into the French Alps on on 242 March 2015 with the loss of all 150 on board.

    Spain

    airBaltic Sale and Leaseback

    Acting for airBaltic on the sale and leaseback of two A220-300 aircraft with FPG Amentum. Airfinance Journal 2018 Operating Lease Deal of the Year

    Latvia

    Turkish Airlines Balthazar guaranteed commercial financing

    Acting for Turkish Airlines on a Balthazar guaranteed commercial financing for five A321neo aircraft.  Airfinance Journal 2020 Legal Transaction of the Year

    Turkey

Our Aviation team

Kevin Sutherland
Kevin Sutherland

Partner

Maria Cetta
Maria Cetta

Partner

Rob Lawson KC
Rob Lawson KC

Partner

Peter Macara
Peter Macara

Partner

Mark Bisset
Mark Bisset

Partner

Enrique Navarro
Enrique Navarro

Partner

Gareth Lewis
Gareth Lewis

Partner

John Samiotis
John Samiotis

Partner

Andrew Harakas
Andrew Harakas

Partner

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