Civil Aviation Act 1990

International carriage by air

91G: Limitation of liability

You could also call this:

"Rules about how much money airlines might have to pay if something goes wrong on a flight"

This law talks about limits on how much money airlines have to pay if something goes wrong during a flight. These limits apply no matter how someone tries to get the money. Here's what you need to know:

If two people or companies are responsible for a problem, and one of them is the airline or someone who works for the airline, these limits still apply when they're figuring out who pays what.

There's a limit on how much money each passenger can get. This total limit applies even if the passenger tries to get money in New Zealand and in other countries.

Courts in New Zealand can make decisions they think are fair, considering these limits and any other cases about the same problem in New Zealand or other countries.

If a case might be partly decided in New Zealand and partly in another country, the court in New Zealand can:

  • Give less money than it would if the whole case was in New Zealand
  • Make its decision depend on what happens in other cases

The court can use these rules together to make fair decisions.

When the law talks about Article 22, it might also mean some other related rules that change or add to Article 22.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM218058.


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91F: Contributory negligence, or

"If you're partly responsible for an accident on a plane, the court decides how much the airline pays"


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91H: Value of special drawing right, or

"How much money you might get if something goes wrong with your flight"

Part 9AInternational carriage by air

91GLimitation of liability

  1. The limitations on liability referred to in Articles 21 and 22 of the Montreal Convention or in Article 22 of the amended Convention apply whatever the nature of the proceedings by which liability may be enforced and, in particular,—

  2. those limitations apply where proceedings are brought by a tortfeasor to obtain contribution from another tortfeasor if the tortfeasor from whom contribution is sought is the carrier or a servant or agent of the carrier; and
    1. the limitation for each passenger referred to in Article 21 of the Montreal Convention or in paragraph (1) of Article 22 of the amended Convention applies to the aggregate liability of the carrier in all proceedings which may be brought against the carrier under the law of New Zealand, together with any proceedings brought against the carrier outside New Zealand.
      1. A court before which proceedings are brought to enforce a liability which is limited by Article 21 or Article 22 of the Montreal Convention or Article 22 of the amended Convention may at any stage of the proceedings make any order that appears to the court to be just and equitable, in view of—

      2. the provisions of Article 21 or Article 22 of the Montreal Convention or Article 22 of the amended Convention; and
        1. any other proceedings which have been, or are likely to be, commenced in New Zealand or elsewhere to enforce the liability in whole or in part.
          1. A court before which proceedings are brought to enforce a liability that is limited by Article 21 or Article 22 of the Montreal Convention or Article 22 of the amended Convention has jurisdiction, where the liability is, or may be, partly enforceable in other proceedings in New Zealand or elsewhere, to—

          2. award an amount less than the court would have awarded if the limitation applied solely to the proceedings before the court; or
            1. make any part of its award conditional on the result of any other proceedings.
              1. The provisions of subsection (3) do not limit the powers conferred on a court by subsection (2).

              2. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to Article 22 of the amended Convention are, subject to any necessary modifications, to be read as references to that Article as applied or supplemented by Article 25A of the amended Convention and Articles V and VI of the Guadalajara Convention.

              Compare
              • 1967 No 151 s 10(1), (2), (3), (5)
              Notes
              • Section 91G: inserted, on , by section 3 of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 70).
              • Section 91G(1): amended, on , by section 29(1) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 15).
              • Section 91G(1)(b): amended, on , by section 29(2)(a) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 15).
              • Section 91G(1)(b): amended, on , by section 29(2)(b) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 15).
              • Section 91G(2): amended, on , by section 11(1) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 95).
              • Section 91G(2): amended, on , by section 29(3) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 15).
              • Section 91G(2)(a): amended, on , by section 11(1) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 95).
              • Section 91G(2)(a): amended, on , by section 29(4)(a) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 15).
              • Section 91G(2)(a): amended, on , by section 29(4)(b) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 15).
              • Section 91G(3): substituted, on , by section 11(2) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 95).
              • Section 91G(5): amended, on , by section 29(6) of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 15).