Aviation, transport and logistics

We have considerable expertise in providing commercial, regulatory and litigation advice to the aviation, transport and logistics industry. We are internationally renowned for our commercial awareness, industry knowledge and innovation. Our lawyers have extensive experience working both in-house and as external advisors with integrators, international airlines and aircraft lessors which gives us a comprehensive understanding of the industry and an intimate knowledge of how it operates.

Our clients include airlines and air operators, aircraft lessors, integrators and other logistic services providers, airports and aerodromes, maintenance organizations and service providers, ground handlers, banks, insurers and reinsurers, and public authorities.

Our expertise

Aviation, Transport and Logistics: Commercial capabilities

We have been handling a wide range of matters in the following areas: mergers of airlines; aircraft acquisitions, leasing, and financing arrangements; airport leasing and operating agreements; charter and similar airline service arrangements; maintenance, ground handling, and other vendor service arrangements; and air cargo logistics and freight forwarding. / more

Aviation, Transport and Logistics: Regulatory

We advise on a wide variety of regulatory issues including licensing, oversight and certification, compliance with regulatory framework – domestic, regional and international, airline licensing, AOCs, type certification, Air Travel Organiser’s aviation taxation regulations in the field of passengers rights, safety and security and the environment and international aviation conventions. / more

Aviation, Transport and Logistics: Litigation

Our firm has a recognized experience in litigation, arbitration, and mediation, specifically within the transportation, aviation, and logistics sectors. We have successfully represented clients in high-profile disputes involving commercial shipping, freight forwarding, air carriers, lessors, public authorities, integrators, and ground handling services. Our team is well-versed in the complexities of aviation regulations, cargo claims, maritime law, transport by road and logistics contracts, and we regularly handle cases related to regulatory compliance, liability issues, and breach of contract.

Our team handles claims and litigation for some of the world’s major airlines and operators, in relation to injuries or fatalities as well as regards delays or cancellation of flights.

We also deliver commercial litigation services in respect of disputes regarding aircraft sale and purchase, leasing, aircraft charter agreements and other operating contracts in the aviation, transportation and logistics sector.

Related cases

Redelivery of a fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft

Aviation, transport and logistics Commercial transactions and corporate

We advised an international airline on the redelivery of a fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft to their lessor, in the context of the airline’s restructuring. / more

Judicial reorganization and restructuring of an international airline

Aviation, transport and logistics Commercial transactions and corporate

We have been assisting an international airline in the context of its judicial reorganization and restructuring under the supervision of the domestic commercial courts. / more

Purchase and leasing of a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft

Aviation, transport and logistics Commercial transactions and corporate

We have assisted an European State-owned airline in relation to the purchase and leasing of a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft in the context of its new fleet development strategy. / more

Renegotiation of the management contract between the Belgian State and Skeyes

Aviation, transport and logistics Regulatory

We have been appointed by the Belgian Government to assist the cabinet of the Minister of Transport and the Federal Administration of Mobility in relation to the renegotiation of the management contract between the Belgian State and Skeyes / more

Assistance in relation to passenger claims and seizure of assets in the aviation sector

Aviation, transport and logistics Litigation, arbitration and mediation

We have assisted major European and Middle-East airlines in relation to all their legal proceedings in Belgium and the Netherlands in relation to passenger claims and seizure of assets. / more

Night flights and aircraft disruptions legal proceedings

Aviation, transport and logistics Litigation, arbitration and mediation

Arrest of a ship and urgent measures

Aviation, transport and logistics Litigation, arbitration and mediation Insurance

Damage to fresh fruits during their transportation by sea and storage

Aviation, transport and logistics Litigation, arbitration and mediation Insurance

Negotiation of Total-Care Agreements

Aviation, transport and logistics

Tailored logistics and supply chain transactions

Aviation, transport and logistics

We structured and negotiated for a global integrator numerous tailored complex logistics and supply chain transactions. / more

Strategic Agreement with airport and public authorities

Aviation, transport and logistics

We assisted a global integrator in drafting and negotiating a long term agreement with an airport and the competent public authorities. / more

Purchase of a global logistics services provider

Commercial transactions and corporate Aviation, transport and logistics

We assisted a group of US investors in the context of the acquisition of a global logistics services provider. / more

Aircraft leasing dispute and ICC arbitration proceedings

Litigation, arbitration and mediation Aviation, transport and logistics

We assisted a Middle-East airline in the context of ICC arbitration proceedings initiated by an European airlines in relation to the termination of an aircraft lease agreement and the rights and obligations in relation thereto. / more

Demerger and sale of European airlines

Regulatory Aviation, transport and logistics

In the context of the global acquisition of an European integrator by a US group, we provided assistance in relation to the demerger and sale process of two European airlines / more

Joint-venture in the aircraft maintenance sector

Commercial transactions and corporate Aviation, transport and logistics

We assisted the airline of a global integrator in setting up a joint venture with a major maintenance services provider for the purpose of performing dedicated maintenance work on all aircraft of its fleet. / more

Setting up of airlines

Regulatory Aviation, transport and logistics

We assisted investors and their non-EU partners for the purpose of setting up two European airlines in the cargo and passengers sectors. / more