Category: Delay

Airline prevails on “real party in interest” defense in EU 261 lawsuit brought by claims management company

December 8, 2020

Click 2 Refund Inc. v. British Airways Plc (C.D. Cal. Nov. 18, 2019).  EU 261’s robust compensation provisions have spawned a thriving industry of web-based “claims management companies” that offer to assist airline customers in obtaining recoveries for canceled or delayed flights on a “no win, no fee” basis.  One such company claims that it … More Airline prevails on “real party in interest” defense in EU 261 lawsuit brought by claims management company

Court rules that rejected pre-litigation settlement demand does not create entitlement to attorneys’ fees under Montreal Convention

December 9, 2016

Bytska v. Swiss International Air Lines, Ltd. (N.D. Ill. Nov. 28, 2016).  In her 45-page complaint, the passenger/plaintiff alleged that Swiss and Ukraine International Airlines were liable under the Montreal Convention and EU 261 due to delays in her flights from Kiev to Chicago via Zurich.  As part of her claim under the Convention, the … More Court rules that rejected pre-litigation settlement demand does not create entitlement to attorneys’ fees under Montreal Convention

Airline that took all reasonable measures in response to bird strike not liable for international travel delay

September 15, 2016

Bernfeld v. US Airways, Inc. (N.D. Ill. Apr. 20, 2016).  The plaintiffs, three family members, were traveling from Israel to Chicago, with a connection in Philadelphia.  The US Airways aircraft that was to operate the connecting flight sustained a bird strike en route to Philadelphia and was removed from service so the airline could conduct … More Airline that took all reasonable measures in response to bird strike not liable for international travel delay

Montreal Convention cancels ticketholders’ canceled ticket claims

June 23, 2016

Papaiyawala v. Saudi Arabian Airlines (E.D.V.A. Apr. 15, 2016).  The plaintiffs, a married couple, had purchased tickets for the wife’s parents to travel from India to New York.  Several days before the outbound flight, Saudia canceled the tickets in response to a fraud alert from the plaintiffs’ credit card company and then initiated the process … More Montreal Convention cancels ticketholders’ canceled ticket claims

Conditions of carriage withstand tort claims by delayed passengers

February 1, 2012

Lavine v. American Airlines, Inc. (Md. Special App. Dec. 1, 2011).  Using aa.com, the plaintiffs bought two American Airlines tickets for roundtrip transportation originating and terminating at Reagan National Airport, with an intermediate stop at Key West International Airport.  Their outbound itinerary included a connecting flight from Miami International Airport to Key West.  They received an … More Conditions of carriage withstand tort claims by delayed passengers

Airline prevails on summary judgment by proving it took all reasonable measures to avoid delaying passengers

December 2, 2010

Cohen v. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 8, 2010).  The plaintiffs had tickets for travel from New York (JFK) to Buenos Aires, Argentina, connecting in Atlanta.  Due to an air traffic control mandate, the flight to Atlanta was delayed, and, as a result, the plaintiffs missed the flight to Buenos Aires.  Delta booked the … More Airline prevails on summary judgment by proving it took all reasonable measures to avoid delaying passengers

Plaintiff avoids preemptive effect of Montreal Convention by court’s holding that claims are for non-performance, not delay

July 29, 2009

Mullaney v. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. June 3, 2009).  According to the plaintiff, Delta canceled his return flight from Paris to New York due to a strike by employees of Air France (Delta’s codeshare partner) and breached its written promise to reimburse customers who booked substitute flights on other airlines.  In his class action … More Plaintiff avoids preemptive effect of Montreal Convention by court’s holding that claims are for non-performance, not delay

Court’s narrow view of Montreal Convention preemption results in remand to state court

January 31, 2009

Narkiewicz-Laine v. Scandinavian Airlines Systems (N.D. Ill. Sept. 12, 2008).  In his state court complaint, the passenger claimed that (i) the airline’s delay of a certain international flight in March 2008 caused him to miss his connecting flight, and (ii) the airline refused to refund his ticket for an international flight scheduled for June 2006, … More Court’s narrow view of Montreal Convention preemption results in remand to state court

Court rules on summary judgment motions in charter flights class action

April 28, 2008

In re Nigeria Charter Flights Contract Litigation (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 25, 2007).  In 2002, World Airways, Inc. and Ritetime Aviation and Travel Services, Inc. entered into a charter aircraft services agreement under which World agreed to supply Ritetime with round-trip flights between points in the U.S. and Lagos, Nigeria.  The charter flights began but, by the … More Court rules on summary judgment motions in charter flights class action

Passengers’ state law seating and routing claims held preempted

June 8, 2007

Onwuteaka v. Northwest Airlines, Inc. and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (S.D. Tex. May 10, 2007).  The passengers, a family of four, had two grievances concerning their international flight.  First, their request for “adjoining seats” was not honored.  Second, “[f]ive hours into their flight from Amsterdam to Nigeria, the plane was abruptly piloted back to Amsterdam … More Passengers’ state law seating and routing claims held preempted