In the field of air transportation, charter flights play a special role as they provide flexibility that scheduled flights cannot offer. Charter Agreements regulate the relationship between the Charterer and the Carrier regarding the hiring of the entire or partial capacity of an aircraft to perform a specific flight or series of flights. In Georgia, where tourism and business aviation are growing sectors, the legal soundness of charter agreements is critical for airlines, tour operators, and private clients alike.
What does Charter Agreement service cover?
Legal services in this category focus on the legal assurance of charter operations. Experienced lawyers help clients minimize risks and protect commercial interests in the following areas:
- Passenger Charters: Drafting agreements for transporting tourist groups, sports teams, or corporate delegations. Special attention is paid to flight cancellation terms, deadlines for submitting passenger lists, and service standards.
- Cargo Charters: Preparing agreements for special cargo shipments. This includes specifying conditions for transporting dangerous, perishable, or oversized cargo and defining liability in case of cargo damage or delay.
- VIP and Business Aviation: Preparing individual Private Jet Charter agreements for high-ranking individuals, where confidentiality and exclusive service conditions are prioritized.
- Ad-hoc and Series Charters: Creating a legal framework for one-time (Ad-hoc) and multiple (series) charter programs, including structuring deposits and payment schedules.
Common Situations and Needs
The need for charter agreements arises in various scenarios:
- Tourist Season: A tour operator wants to charter an aircraft for twice-weekly flights throughout the summer and needs an agreement that protects them from flight cancellations by the airline.
- Urgent Cargo: A logistics company needs to transport a large volume of cargo urgently and wants to ensure the carrier is fully liable for the cargo's safety.
- Medical Evacuation: A specialized aircraft needs to be chartered for urgent patient transport (Air Ambulance), requiring agreement on specific medical and aviation conditions.
- Event Logistics: Organizers of an international conference want to schedule a charter flight to bring in guests and need guarantees on timely flight performance.
Georgian Legislation and Regulations
Charter transportation in Georgia is regulated by the Air Code of Georgia and normative acts of the Civil Aviation Agency. Issues of carrier liability, especially in international transport, are based on the Montreal Convention (for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air), of which Georgia is a member. The charter agreement must comply with the general norms of the Civil Code of Georgia regarding work and carriage contracts. Additionally, performing charter flights requires a permit from the Civil Aviation Agency, the procedures for which are outlined in relevant administrative acts.
Service Process
Legal assistance includes the following stages:
- Requirement Analysis: Identifying the client's specific needs (passenger, cargo, VIP) and selecting the appropriate legal format.
- Document Preparation: Drafting the Charter Party Agreement, which includes all commercial and technical details.
- Risk Assessment: Detailed analysis of force majeure, flight cancellation, and liability limitation clauses.
- Permits: Assisting in obtaining one-time or multiple flight permits from the Civil Aviation Agency if necessary.
- Execution Monitoring: Protecting client interests and enforcing agreement terms in case of disputes.
Why Legal.ge?
Legal.ge is your reliable partner in the field of aviation law. The platform brings together specialists who understand the dynamics of the charter market and can offer fast and effective legal solutions. Whether it is an urgent cargo shipment or a complex tourist program, lawyers found on Legal.ge ensure that your charter agreement is watertight and fully compliant with Georgian legislation.
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