The Warsaw Convention is an international convention which
regulates liability for international carriage of persons, luggage
or goods performed by aircraft for reward.
Originally signed in 1929 in Warsaw (hence the name), it was
amended in 1955 at The Hague and in 1975 in Montreal. US courts
have held that, at least for some purposes, the Warsaw Convention
is a different instrument from the Warsaw Convention as Amended by
the Hague Protocol.
In particular, the Warsaw Convention:
mandates carriers to issue passenger tickets
requires carriers to issue baggage checks for checked
luggage
limits a carrier's liability to:
These sums are valid in the absence of a differing agreement (on a higher sum) with the carrier. Agreements on lower sums are null and void.
On 1 September 2005, the exchange rate was 1.00 SDR = 1,189 EUR or
1.00 SDR = 1,473 USD.
The Warsaw Convention governs the international carriage of goods
by aircraft for hire or reward when the place of departure and
place of destination are both situated in the territory of states
which are parties to the Convention.
The carriage by air extends only to the period while goods are in
the charge of the carrier in an airport or on board an aircraft. It
should be noted that the Convention does not apply to any
part-carriage by land or sea. Also, the Convention does not apply
to mail or postal packets. The Convention states that the exporter
must make out an air waybill (even if in practice this is done by
the carrier or forwarder) and is responsible for the correctness of
the statements relating to the goods in the air waybill. Also, the
exporter must make a claim within set time limits; e.g., notice
must be given in writing immediately potential loss or damage is
discovered.
The carrier is liable for loss, damage, or delay to the goods
while they are in his charge in an airport or on board an aircraft.
However, it is possible for the carrier to exclude loss, or damage
resulting from inherent vice, etc.