Webinar 2 – Aviation and Travel
Introduction
The industries most directly and immediately affected by COVID- 19 were the aviation and travel industries, as borders were shut and lockdowns across the world ensued.
Lufthansa announced that it is burning through 1 Million an hour and flying just 1 per cent of its usual passenger numbers. It has also furloughed 90,000 of its 135,000 employees. This is but one of the world’s estimated 800 commercial airlines globally.
The trade body LATA predicted a 48 per cent fall in traffic this year and if it proves correct, at least seven years of airline passenger traffic growth would be wiped out in 2020, according to consultancy Cirium. The value of global tourism in 2019 was valued at approximately $9 trillion annually.
Sales revenue of Expedia Group was $99 Billion in 2018. It has now come to a standstill as hotels and restaurants have closed, tours are no longer possible because of lockdowns and tourist sites have closed. The scale of the pandemics effect on aviation and travel is therefore enormous and will lead to insolvencies, mass employee terminations and loss of the largest contributor to the World’s GDP.
Our panel of industry experts will discuss what steps can be taken by companies in these industries to assist in mitigating some of this impact.
Speakers
Wolf von Kumberg – Moderator
Mediator & Arbitrator – Int Arb Arbitrators & Mediators
Wolf is an internationally recognised arbitrator and mediator with over 30 years’ experience in International legal business, based in Washington DC and London.
His specialist area is aviation. A founding panelist of the Aerospace, Aviation and National Security panel of the AAA. Having worked for Northrop Grumman Corporation a major aircraft manufacturer for the US Airforce contributing to such iconic aircraft as the F15, B2 Bomber, the GlobalHawk and the F35, he is well versed in the design, manufacture and supply of aircraft systems globally. Having worked for Litton Industries, Inc. at one time a major supplier to airframe manufacturers globally, he is very familiar with global supply chains and the issues associated therewith.
He is fluent in English and German, and has a good working knowledge of Italian and French.
Anna Antolitou – Panelist
Partner – Ince & Gordon Dadds LLP
Anna is a Partner in the firm’s Aviation Group, and heads the firm’s Travel practice.
Her Practice covers Aviation and Travel Litigation, Regulatory and Commercial. She has considerable Aviation and Travel law experience, and also has invaluable in-house experience at two major airlines, first with the Emirates Group on a long-term secondment and as Group General Counsel of the Air Arabia Group, the Middle East’s first and (then) largest LCC, where she headed the Legal team as well as Insurance claims and assisting in group strategy.
Her clients include a variety of airlines, insurers, travel agents, manufacturers/OEMs, MROs, flight services, ground agents and airports, lessors and financiers and other industry players. Anna’s practice is extensive, covering liability claims, contractual and commercial disputes, product liability and death, personal injury and cargo cases.
Bronwen Courtenay-Stamp – Panellist
Partner – Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Bronwen specialises in all aspects of travel insurance including policy wording, coverage, advice on legal expense cover and in third party liability issues. She has particular expertise in matters of winter sports liability, having been involved in many complex skiing liability cases within both European and North American jurisdictions.
She has established herself as a trusted adviser to many insurers, underwriters and claims handlers advising on policy issues, subrogation and coverage matters.
Bronwen also gives advice to companies and commercial organisations on insurance issues including notification of claims, liability claims and policy wording.
Having built up a wealth of knowledge in relation to foreign jurisdictional disputes she has been involved in both litigating and mediating to settlement complex international liability claims.
She is a commentator in the travel and legal press, and delivers in-house legal training to insurers and claims handlers on travel insurance issues.
Jane Player – Panellist
Mediator – Int Arb Arbitrators & Mediators
Jane is a leading international mediator. Formerly a partner at King & Spalding, co-head of the international dispute resolution group and head of the London disputes team at Bird & Bird and DLA Piper respectively.
Specialist areas include corporate and contractual claims, fraud and project disputes including pharmaceuticals, energy, technology, IP and media disputes.
She has a reputation for managing cross-cultural aspects of joint venture and international shareholder disputes including early neutral evaluation and expert determination.
Fluent in French, Spanish and Italian to varying degrees.
Agenda
Guidance on responsible contractual behaviour in the performance and enforcement of contracts impacted by the Covid-19 emergency
Responsible and fair behaviour is strongly encouraged in performing and enforcing contracts where there has been a material impact from Covid-19. This includes being reasonable and proportionate in responding to performance issues and enforcing contracts (including dealing with any disputes), acting in a spirit of co- operation and aiming to achieve practical, just and equitable contractual outcomes having regard to the impact on the other party (or parties), the availability of financial resources, the protection of public health and the national interest.
- Immediate key issues for the aviation industry, particularly 14 day quarantine imposed on travelers into the UK.
- Immediate key issues for the Travel industry.
- What are the key issues, in particular, surrounding refunds and vouchers?
- Why might structured negotiations provide a platform for reviewing current legal obligations and how does this differ from traditional party/party negotiations?
- What role can mediation play?
- Should these resolution methods proceed online or are parties better to wait until the courts are functioning again?
- Arbitration and how does it fit into this resolution mix?
- How can Int Arb assist and how do parties access a virtual resolution platform?
View the full recording of the webinar below
If you have any queries, please email sam.carter@int-arb.com
About Int Arb
Overview
Int Arb Arbitrators & Mediators is a specialist set of independent arbitrators and mediators with experience in substantial disputes across the globe. Our expertise lies with aviation & aerospace, investor state, construction, engineering & infrastructure, and corporate and commercial disputes including technology and telecommunications, banking, transport, IP, M&A, Insurance and re-insurance, mining, energy, oil & gas.
The dedicated and experienced support management team are on hand to talk through and have detailed conversations with our clients in order to understand the requirements of each dispute(s) – guiding you through the process of appointment and making suitable recommendations of mediator or arbitrator.
Managing Director: Sam Carter
DDI: 0203 928 7280 · Email: Sam.Carter@int-arb.com · LinkedIn: Sam Carter
International Arbitration Centre (IAC) and IAC Online
Virtual Arbitration Portal & Hearing Facilities – IAC Online provides a secure virtual portal and unique navigation dashboard. Our virtual hearing room streamlines the proceedings with the focus on the Tribunal, lead advocates and witnesses. It also allows for all involved to attend (support lawyers, clients etc) without congesting the screen.
IAC Online provides easily accessible, physically separated private breakout rooms for each party and tribunal to use throughout in the same way you would have for a physical hearing.
During this time at the IAC we are regularly holding semi-virtual hearings. This due to our infrastructure and facilities, we are one of the only venues in London who can sensibly operate social distancing measures and keep all involved as safe as possible going forwards.
For further information or queries, please contact rachel.bidmead@int-arb.com