General terms and conditions of carriage
Table of contents
Definitions / 1 Governing Law / 2 Scope of Application of the Terms and Conditions of Carriage / 3 Completion of the Air Waybill / 4 Freight Charges / 5 Acceptance of Cargo for Carriage / 6 Consignments in Transit / 7 Consignor’s Right to Dispose of the Cargo / 8 Delivery / 9 Pickup and Delivery / 10 Forwarding and Re-Forwarding / 11 Successive Carriers / 12 Liability / 13 Limitation of Liability / 14 Actual Carrier / 15 Periods for Compensation Claims and Legal Actions / 16 Set-Off / Assignment / 17 Governing Law / Place of Jurisdiction / 18 Conflicting Law / 19 Modifications and Waivers / 20 Data Protection
Definitions
Agent
means the person or enterprise who/which is expressly or tacitly authorised to act in the name or on behalf of the carrier and/or the consignor with regard to the carriage, unless otherwise provided for in the contract of carriage.
Air Waybill
means the deed named “Air Waybill” as completed by the consignor or on its behalf; it constitutes the proof of the contract between the consignor and the carrier on the carriage of cargo.
Cargo
means all items carried or to be carried in an aircraft, including postal items insofar as the Terms and Conditions of Carriage are applicable due to the valid international conventions. Unaccompanied baggage and animals carried under an air waybill are cargo within the scope of this definition.
Carriage
means the carriage of cargo by air or by land with or without charge on the basis of a contract of carriage by air.
Carriage Forward
means the collection of the freight charge stated on the air waybill from the consignee.
Carrier
means the airfreight carrier stated on the air waybill, or in the event of any other document within the meaning of Article 2 clause 3 the per-son named carrier in such other document, and each person carrying freight under the air waybill.
Cash on Delivery
means the collection by the carrier upon delivery of the consignment of the amount stated in the air waybill as being payable by the consignee to the consignor, based on an agreement between the consignor and the carrier (charge forward on value of cargo).
Code-Sharing
means the use of a non-operative flight number concurrent with the operative flight number of another carrier performing the carriage.
Consignee
means the person or company whose name or denomination is entered in the space provided therefor in the air waybill and to whom the carrier has to hand over the goods, subject to other instructions.
Consignor
means the person or enterprise whose name or denomination is entered as contracting partner in the provided space on the air waybill, upon conclusion of the contract of carriage.
Contract of Carriage
means the oral or written agreement between the consignor and the carrier relating to the carriage to be performed by the carrier, including the freight rates.
Convention
means one or several of the following conventions, insofar as it applies to the contract of carriage:
• Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air; done at Montreal on 28 May 1999 (Montreal Convention);
• Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air; signed at Warsaw on 12 October 1929 (Warsaw Convention);
• Warsaw Convention in the version of The Hague of 28 Septem-ber 1955;
• Montreal Protocol No. 4 of 25 September 1975 (MP 4);
• Convention, Supplementary to the Warsaw Convention, for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air Performed by a Person other than the Contracting Carrier, signed at Guadalajara on 18 September 1961 (Guadalajara Convention).
Days
means full calendar days, including Sundays and public holidays; upon establishment of a term of validity, the day of issuance of the carriage document or the day of flight departure is not counted.
Delivery Service
means the overland carriage of inbound consignments from the airport of destination to the address of the consignee or that of its designated agent or to the custody of the competent authorities, if required.
Freight Rates / Tariffs
means those weight- or value-related remunerations and fees of the carrier which apply to the carriage and kind of carriage chosen by the consignor on the date of the issuance of the air waybill or which are agreed between the parties to the contract.
Performing Carrier
means the airfreight carrier which on the basis of an authorisation of the contractual carrier performs the carriage as a whole or in part without being a successive carrier.
Pick-up Service
means the overland transport of outbound consignments from the pick-up point to the airport of departure.
Successive Carrier
means the airfreight carrier which under one air waybill performs the carriage with one or several other carriers as one single service.
Article 1: Governing Law
1. Any carriage performed by the carrier either itself or through third parties, including all services relating thereto which are either performed by itself or by such third party, are subject to:
a) the convention applicable to the carriage as applicable to the carriage,
b) the other national and international law insofar as applicable to the carriage,
c) any other national and international governmental regulations, orders and requirements insofar as applicable to the carriage,
d) these Terms and Conditions of Carriage and other conditions, rules, regulations and flight schedules as determined by the carrier (exclusive of the arrival and departure times set forth therein); these can be inspected at any branch office and at the airports from where the carrier operates scheduled air services.
2. For the purposes of the convention the agreed stoppage places, which can if necessary be changed by the carrier, shall be those places - except for the place of departure and the place of destination – indicated on the air waybill or scheduled as regular stopping places for the air route in the flight schedules of the carrier.
Article 2: Scope of Application of the Terms and Conditions of Carriage
1. Basis
None of the provisions of these Terms and Conditions of Carriage deviates from any mandatory or prevailing law to the detriment of the consignor or consignee, unless such deviations are permissible.
2. General
Any carriage of cargo, including all services relating thereto as set forth in the freight rates published in connection with these Terms and Conditions of Carriage, is in consideration of Article 1 subject to these Terms and Conditions of Carriage and to the published tariffs as in effect at the date of the issuance of the air waybill by the carrier, or to the tariffs agreed between the contracting parties. The carrier may appoint third parties to perform the owed carriage services.
3. Gratuitous Carriage
With regard to any gratuitous carriage, the carrier reserves the right to exclude the applicability of these Terms and Conditions as a whole or in part.
4. Charter Agreements
If cargo is transported on the basis of a charter agreement entered into with the carrier, the carriage shall be subject to the carrier’s applicable charter terms and conditions, if any. The present Terms and Conditions of Carriage apply only insofar as provided for in the charter agreement. If the carrier does not have any charter terms and conditions being applicable to the charter agreement, these Terms and Conditions of Carriage shall apply to the agreement unless the carrier reserves the right to exclude the applicability of all or any parts of these Terms and Conditions. In the event of any discrepancy between the provisions of these Terms and Conditions and the provisions of the charter agreement, the latter shall prevail. The consignor accepting carriage on the basis of a charter agreement thereby subjects to the provisions of these agreements irrespective of whether or not expressly agreed with the consignor.
5. Change without Notice
Unless otherwise provided for under applicable laws, governmental regulations, orders and requirements, these Terms and Conditions of Carriage as well as the published freight rates and charges are subject to change without prior notice. Any such change, however, may not be made after the date of issuance of the air waybill or of the other recording within the meaning of Article 3 clause 3 by the carrier.
6. Application to United States and Canada
These Terms do not apply to Carriage between places in the United States or in Canada or between a place in the United States or in Canada and any place outside thereof to which tariffs in force in those countries apply. The tariffs applicable to such Carriage are available for inspection at the offices of the Carrier.
Article 3: Completion of the Air Waybill
1. Air Waybill
Insofar as the carriage is subject to the provisions of the Warsaw Convention of 1929 or in the version of The Hague, the consignor shall complete the air waybill, or have it completed in his name, in the manner prescribed by the carrier and with the required number of copies. The consignor shall deliver the air waybill to the carrier upon handing over the cargo, or provide it to the carrier in electronic form. The carrier shall insert the freight rate and, if applicable, the fixed charges in the air waybill, or have these inserted. The carrier may request the consignor to complete, or have on its behalf completed, separate air waybills if there is more than one packing unit or if the cargo cannot be carried as one packing unit in one aircraft or if it cannot be carried under one single air waybill without violation of governmental requirements or regulations of the carrier.
2. Electronic Air Waybill
If the carrier provides for such possibility, the air waybill may be made out and/or stored in electronic form and signed by electronic signature as provided for this purpose by the carrier. Upon handing over of the cargo the air waybill must be physically available. The carrier may electronically store (scan) open accompanying freight documents; sentence 2 shall apply analogously. After electronic storage, the carrier is entitled to send accompanying freight documents requiring physical delivery directly to the place of destination, independent from the carriage of the cargo.
3. Other Recording
Insofar as the carriage is not subject to the regulations of the Warsaw Convention of 1929 or in the version of The Hague, the traditional air waybill may be replaced by any other kind of recording containing the particulars of the carriage to be performed. In such case the carrier shall upon request hand out to the consignor a confirmation of receipt of the cargo which enables an exact determination of the consignment and recourse to the statements made in such other recording. The carrier may use electronic means to prove delivery. Such other recording shall be equated with the air waybill and is in these Terms and Conditions of Carriage always covered by the term “air waybill”.
4. Visible Condition and State of the Cargo
If the condition and state of the cargo and/or the packaging is visibly defective, the consignor shall make a corresponding note in the air waybill. If the consignor fails to do so or if the note is unclear, the carrier may make a corresponding note or correction in the air waybill.
5. Preparation, Completion or Correction by the Carrier
Upon express or implied request of the consignor, the carrier may complete the air waybill itself; in such case it is assumed until proof to the contrary that the carrier has acted on behalf of the consignor. If the air waybill handed out together with the cargo does not contain all required particulars or is incorrect the carrier shall be entitled but not obliged to complete or correct it to the best of its knowledge.
6. Responsibility for Particulars
The consignor is liable towards the carrier and third parties for the correctness and completeness of all particulars inserted in the air waybill by it or any of its agents or by the carrier in accordance with clause 4 and 5; the same applies with regard to any particulars or declarations made by the consignor or its agents towards the carrier on the cargo or its value. The consignor is liable for any damage incurred by the carrier or third parties from any incorrectness, inaccuracy or incompleteness of the said particulars. In the case of consignments to be forwarded C.O.D., the consignor is solely responsible for entering the amount to be collected in the air waybill. The carrier is not liable for any omission to collect the cash on delivery amount if the consignor did not enter it or if the entry was incorrect.
7. Form, Changes
The carrier’s signature as well as the consignor's signature may be printed or replaced by a stamp. The carrier is not obliged to accept any air waybills whose entries were changed or erased. Insofar as declarations require written form the signature provided for within the meaning of clause 2 shall have equal standing if it allows the identification of the originator.
Article 4: Freight Charges
1. Applicable Freight Rates and Charges
The freight rates and charges applicable under these Terms and Conditions are those tariffs of the carrier which are in effect on the day of issuance of the air waybill or have been agreed between the contracting parties. The freight rates and charges apply to the chosen form and route of carriage.
2. Basis of Freight Charges
Freight charges and carriage fees depend on the higher of the total weight or total volume and, if applicable, on the surcharge on the form of carriage chosen by the consignor in accordance with the tariffs.
3. Services not Covered by the Freight Rates and Charges
The freight rates and charges apply to the carriage of cargo by air or by substitute land transportation between airports or other airfields at or near the designated locations. Unless expressly otherwise provided for in the published tariffs, the freight rates and charges do not cover the following services:
a) pick-up and delivery services to and from the airports from which the carrier performs its services,
b) storage fees,
c) insurance fees,
d) cash on delivery charges,
e) advanced charges,
f) costs incurred by the carrier upon customs clearing of the cargo, or incurred by third parties irrespective of whether these act as agents of the consignor, the consignee, the owner of the cargo, or the carrier,
g) charges or fines imposed or collected by competent authorities, including duties or taxes,
h) costs incurred by the carrier for repairing defective packaging,
i) freight charges for the carriage, reloading or return carriage of cargo with other means of transportation, as well as the freight charges for return carriage to the place of departure,
j) surcharges,
k) any other similar services or charges.
4. Payment of the Freight Rates
a) Freight rates and charges are stated in the currency resulting from the relevant freight tariffs. They can be paid in any currency acceptable to the carrier. If payment is made in any currency other than published by the carrier, it shall be made at the applicable exchange rate at the date of issuance of the air waybill.The provisions of this para-graph are subject to the applicable foreign exchange legislation and requirements of the competent authorities.
b) The full relevant freight rate, whether advanced or charged forward, as well as costs, duties, taxes, fees, expenses or other payments effected by the carrier or accrued or accruing to it as well as any other amounts to be paid to the carrier are considered as fully earned upon conclusion of the contract of carriage, whether or not the cargo is lost or damaged, or fails to arrive at the destination or otherwise cannot be delivered or timely delivered.
c) All freight rates, charges and other amounts are due and payable at the time when the cargo is handed over to the carrier. However, the carrier may also charge them over on the occasion of any service based on the air waybill.
d) With regard to all charges, expenses and costs which cannot be finally determined at the time when the cargo is handed over for carriage, the carrier may request the consignor to deposit an amount which the carrier regards as adequate for covering these charges, expenses and costs. Any residual amount owed by the carrier to the consignor or by the consignor to the carrier in connection with this deposit shall be settled after performance of the contract of carriage and after determination of the exact amount of these costs and expenses.
e) The consignor undertakes to pay all unpaid charges, costs and expenses of the carrier. The consignor furthermore undertakes to pay all costs, expenses, fines, penalties, default and other damage possibly accruing to or incurred by the carrier due to the fact that the cargo comprises items whose carriage is prohibited by law or due to the fact of unlawful, incorrect or insufficient description, labeling, numbering, addressing or packaging of the cargo without the damage being caused by the absence, delay or incorrectness of an export or import permit, other incorrect certificates or documents or by wrong customs valuation or incorrect statements as to weight or volume. By accepting the consignment or exercising any other rights under the contract of carriage, the consignee undertakes to pay the charges, fees and expenses, unless paid in advance; however, this does not release the consignor from its corresponding payment obligations. In respect of the foregoing, the carrier has a retention right relating to the cargo handed over to it for carriage by the consignor or by any third party acting on its behalf. If payment is not effected, the carrier will be entitled to dispose of the cargo by public sale or sale in the open market, provided the carrier has informed the consignor or consignee accordingly prior to such sale by written notification sent by mail to the address stated in the air waybill; the carrier is entitled to satisfy itself from the proceeds of such sale as to all amounts owed. However, such sale does not constitute a release from the obligation to pay any shortfall amounts for which the consignor and the consignee remain liable. The carrier’s right to retention, sale and collection of the owed amounts is not forfeited or affected by acknowledgement of the payment obligation, unless payment has actually been made or, insofar as the carrier’s right to collect the owed amounts is concerned, unless the cargo has been delivered or possession thereof has been transferred.
f) If the gross weight, measurements, number of items or declared value of the cargo exceed the figures taken as a basis for the calculation of the freight rates and charges, the carrier will be entitled to subsequently request payment of the freight rates and charges corresponding to the exceeding.
g) Consignments subject to carriage forward are taken on for carriage to such countries specified in the tariffs and in accordance with the provisions set forth therein. In any event the carrier is entitled to deny consignments subject to carriage forward to a country whose regulations do not permit the exchange of money into other currencies or the transfer of money to other countries, or deny carriage forward consignments for other reasons. Information on countries to which carriage forward consignments are possible can be obtained at the carrier’s office premises.
Article 5: Acceptance of Cargo for Carriage
1. Value Limits for One Aircraft
The carrier determines the limit of the value of a consignment or a group of consignments which may be carried in one single aircraft. If any individual consignment exceeds such limit, it may not be carried in one aircraft but is apportioned to two or several aircrafts at the carrier’s due discretion. The carrier is entitled to deny the carriage of consignments in one aircraft if the declared total value would lead to a violation of this principle.
2. Packaging and Labeling of the Cargo; Declaration of Value
a) The consignor shall package the cargo for safe carriage by air in a manner suitable to protect it against loss, damage or deterioration and preventing personal injury or damage to property. Consignments at risk from robbery or theft shall be neutrally packaged without indication of their contents. Each packing unit must bear the name and full postal address of both consignor and consignee in a legible and permanent manner.
b) Hazardous materials must be marked as such in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If accepted for carriage, the consignor shall send hazardous materials as well as valuable cargo or live animals by the carriage form provided for the carriage of such cargo by the carrier, including the surcharge published for such case.
c) With regard to each handing over of cargo for carriage, the consignor may state (particularly declare) its interest in delivery to the place of destination in figures and to pay the requested surcharge.
d) In the event of cash on delivery consignments, the consignor shall legibly write the letters “C.O.D.” on each individual packing item, in addition to the names and addresses of both consignor and consignee.
3. Permissible Cargo
Subject to the availability of suitable facilities and space, the carrier shall carry general merchandise and other goods, commodities and products of all kinds, unless carriage of the same is expressly excluded, provided, however, that
the carriage, export or import is not prohibited by the laws of a country from which, to which or through which the flight takes place,
the cargo must be packaged in a manner suitable for carriage by air,
the cargo must be accompanied by the required shipping documents,
the cargo must not endanger the aircraft, the safety of the flight, persons or objects or cause annoyance to passengers.
4. Cargo Admitted only under Specific Conditions
Explosives, live animals, perishables and other items specified in the applicable regulations of the carrier are accepted only at the conditions provided for therein.
5. Responsibility for Non-Compliance with the Conditions for Cargo Admitted Subject to Restrictions
The consignor is responsible for the compliance with the conditions for cargo which is not admitted for carriage or admitted subject to restrictions and insofar undertakes to compensate the carrier for any loss, damage, delay, liability or penalty which might accrue to it from the carriage of such cargo.
6. Cancellation of Carriage
The carrier may without liability on its part cancel the carriage of a consignment if the con-signor despite demand of payment refuses to settle the freight rate or a requested part thereof.
7. Carrier’s Right of Inspection
The carrier is entitled but not obliged to inspect the contents of all consignments.
8. Tracking Devices
Any active tracking devices – i.e. equipment placed on or in a consignment by the consignor to monitor its progress and/or to record transport or consignment-related data and to automatically transmit such information – must be declared to the carrier when booking the consignment at the latest, stating the product being used for such purposes. Such active tracking devices will only be permitted provided they have been specifically developed for use on board aircraft and have been duly certificated in accordance with official requirements, or provided they comply with the carrier’s own specific terms and conditions. The use of such devices shall not entail any additional duties or obligations on the part of the carrier. Such tracking devices may only be used for quality assurance purposes, and any data gained therefrom may not be used in justification of any claims or entitlements.
Article 6: Consignments in Transit
1. Compliance with Orders of Competent Authorities
The consignor must comply with all applicable laws, customs and other governmental regulations of any country from, through, over or to which the cargo is carried, including those on packaging, labeling and marking, carriage or delivery of the cargo and shall furnish all statements and attach all documents to the air waybill required for the compliance with statutory requirements. The carrier is not obliged to verify the correctness or completeness of these statements or documents. The carrier is not liable toward the consignor or third parties for any loss or costs incurred due to the consignor's failure to comply with these requirements.
2. Cash Expenses and Customs Formalities
The carrier is entitled but not obliged to make advance payments on customs, taxes or charges and to make expenses with regard to the cargo. With regard to the reimbursement of such amounts, the consignor and the consignee are each liable individually and as joint and several debtors. No carrier is obliged to assume costs or make advance payments in connection with the carriage or return carriage of the cargo except against prior payment by the consignor. If cargo at any location requires import through customs, the cargo shall be deemed to be addressed to the person named in the air waybill as customs consignee or, if such person is not named therein, to the carrier carrying the cargo to such location or to the customs consignee stated by the carrier. For any such purpose, a copy of the air waybill, certified by the carrier, shall be deemed an original.
3. Flight Schedules, Routing, Aircrafts, and Cancellations of Flights
a) Unless the contracting parties expressly agreed otherwise on departure and delivery times for the cargo to be carried, no times are fixed for the start and performance of car-riage or for the delivery of the cargo. Unless expressly agreed in accordance with sen-tence 1, the carrier does not assume any obligation to carry the cargo on a specific aircraft, under a specific flight number or on a specific route or to catch a connecting flight anywhere according to a specific flight schedule. The carrier is obliged to choose the route or routes for the consignment according to capacities or availabilities or to deviate therefrom even if stated in the air waybill. Thus, neither the times stated in the flight schedules nor otherwise, nor the flight number or flight dates entered in the air waybill constitute an express agreement within the meaning of sentence 1; the rights of the beneficiary resulting from delay shall remain unaffected thereby. No employee, agent, representative or vicarious agent shall be entitled to place the carrier under any obligation by declarations or determinations on the dates or times of departure or arrival or on the operation of a flight.
b) The contract of carriage does not include any guarantee for an aircraft to be used for carriage or for its suitability for carriage of the cargo to which the contract of carriage refers. The carrier may without notice deploy another carrier or a substitute aircraft. In this respect, the carrier may also perform code-sharing.
c) The carrier may without notice cancel, terminate, change, reschedule or postpone any flight or any right to further carriage or continue a flight without or only with part of the cargo if it considers this advisable for the following reasons:
(I) due to any event beyond its control (including, but not limited to: weather conditions, acts of God, force majeure, strikes, riots, political disturbances, embargoes, wars, hostilities, civil commotions, unstable international conditions, terrorism or governmental warnings against terrorism or war); in this respect it is irrelevant whether the event has in fact occurred or is only threatened or announced or whether this directly or indirectly results in a delay, claim, requirement, incident or predicament, or
(II) due to any event which could not reasonably be foreseen, expected or anticipated, or
(III) due to governmental regulations, orders or requirements, or
(IV) due to any shortage of labor, fuel or facilities or due to labor-related difficulties of the carrier or any third party deployed by it.
d) If a flight is cancelled or rescheduled or ends at any location other than the place of destination for any reason set forth under c) above, or if the carriage of a consignment is cancelled, rescheduled, brought forward or terminated, the carrier shall not be under any liability with respect thereto. If the carriage of the consignment or part thereof is terminated, its delivery by the carrier to a forwarding agent for further carriage, delivery or storage shall be considered as proper delivery according to the air waybill; the carrier is no longer liable but merely obliged to notify the consignor or consignee at the address stated in the air waybill about the disposal of the consignment. The carrier is entitled but not obliged to carry the consignment via any other route or to forward it by any other means of transportation as representative of the consignor or consignee. The costs in-curred thereby shall be added to the freight rate. If the carrier is responsible for the cancellation, rescheduling or termination of carriage at any location other than the one stated in the air waybill, the consignment shall be delivered at the choice and at the expense of the carrier.
e) Within the scope of applicable laws and regulations, the carrier is entitled to determine the priority of any carriage both between consignments and between consignments and other cargo, mail or passengers, and to decide which items are to be carried or not or which are to be unloaded at any time or at any place; the carrier may continue any flight without any or without individual parts of a consignment.
4. Carrier's Rights to Dispose of Consignments in Transit
If the carrier deems it necessary to hold any consignment at any place during or after carriage for preventing damage or danger the carrier may store the consignment at the expense, risk and cost of the consignor and/or consignee at a storehouse or any other available place or with the customs authorities, notifying the consignor and/or consignee at the address stated in the air waybill; the carrier may also hand over the consignment to any other carrier for further carriage to the consignee. Consignor and consignee are jointly and severally liable towards the carrier for any expenses or risks arising from the foregoing and have to reimburse the carrier accordingly.
Article 7: Consignor’s Right to Dispose of the Cargo
1. Consignor’s Right to Dispose of the Cargo
The consignor is entitled to dispose of the consignment as follows, subject to compliance with all obligations resulting from the contract of carriage and clause 2 and provided that the right to dispose is not exercised in such manner as to prejudice the carrier or the other con-signors. The consignor may
a) have the consignment returned to it at the airport of departure or arrival,
b) stop the consignment at any landing,
c) have the consignment delivered at the place of destination or in transit to any person other than the consignee stated in the air waybill or
d) have it returned to the airport of departure.
2. Exercise of the Disposal Right
The right to dispose of the cargo may be exercised only by the consignor or its designated agent and must extend to the entire consignment to be carried under an air waybill. The right to dispose of the cargo can be exercised only if the consignor or its agent presents the part of the air waybill that was given to it. Any disposal instructions must be given in writing and in the form prescribed by the carrier. If the exercise of right of disposal results in a change of consignee, the new consignee shall be deemed to be the one named in the air waybill.
3. Payment of Costs
The consignor shall be liable and obliged to compensate the carrier for any loss or damage sustained as a result of the exercise of the right of disposal. The consignor shall reimburse the carrier for all costs incurred by the exercise of its right of disposal.
4. Carrier’s Inability to Follow the Instructions
If the carrier considers it impracticable to follow the consignor's instructions, it shall without undue delay inform the consignor accordingly. The costs incurred thereby shall be added to the freight rate.
5. Scope of Consignor’s Right
The consignor’s right of disposal expires upon arrival of the cargo at the place of destination. If the consignee refuses to accept the cargo or - within the scope of application of the Warsaw Convention of 1929 or 1955, respectively - the air waybill, or if the consignee is unavailable, the consignor’s right of disposal shall be reinstated.
Article 8: Delivery
1. Delivery to Consignee
a) Unless expressly otherwise provided for in the air waybill, the consignment shall be de-livered to the consignee named in the relevant field of the air waybill. The consignment is deemed to have been delivered to the consignee if it has been delivered to customs or any other competent authority in accordance with the applicable laws or customs requirements, when the carrier has submitted an authorization to the consignee enabling the same to obtain release of the consignment and when the carrier has sent the arrival notification required under clause 2 of this Article (“Notification of Arrival”).
b) The carrier delivers the consignment only against written receipt of the consignee and upon compliance with all other requirements stated in the air waybill and these Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
2. Notice of Arrival
Unless the consignment is to be forwarded in accordance with Article 10 and in the absence of deviating instructions, the consignee or the person to be notified shall be informed of the arrival of the consignment; the notification may at the carrier's choice be given either in writing or orally, also by telephone. The written notification can also be given by fax or by electronic mail (e-mail). The carrier is not liable for non-receipt or delay in receipt of the notification.
3. Place of Delivery
Insofar as delivery to the address of the consignee has not been agreed between the con-signor or the consignee and the carrier, the consignee shall accept delivery and collect of the consignment at the airport of destination.
4. Failure of Consignee to Take Delivery
a) If the consignee refuses or omits to take delivery of the consignment after its arrival at the place of delivery set forth in the air waybill, the carrier shall - subject to the provision of clause 5 ("Disposal of Perishables") - try to follow the consignor’s instructions on the air waybill, if any. If no such instructions are given or if they cannot reasonably be fol-lowed, the carrier may after notification of the consignor about the non-acceptance by the consignee take the following measures. The carrier may
return the consignment to the airport of departure, either by its own means or by any other way, and there wait for the consignor's instructions, or
sell the consignment by public or private sale as a whole or in several parts after at least 30 days of storage.
b) Consignor and consignee are jointly and severally liable for all costs and expenses re-sulting from or in connection with the non-acceptance of the consignment, including the freight charges arising from the return of the consignment. If the consignment is returned to the airport of departure, and if the consignor or owner refuses or fails to make such payment within 14 days after the return, the carrier may by public or private sale dispose of the consignment or parts thereof after having notified the consignor of its intention at the address stated in the air waybill with a notice period of ten days.
c) In the event of a sale of the cargo in accordance with the foregoing provisions either at the place of destination or at the place to which the consignment was returned, the carrier shall be entitled to reimburse to itself and third parties all costs of freight, charges, advance payments and expenses plus costs of sale accrued to itself and other rightful claimants; a possible surplus amount shall be made available to the consignor. The sale of a consignment, however, does not release the consignor and the owner from the obli-gation to pay shortfall amounts, if any.
5. Disposal of Perishables
If any consignment in the carrier's possession which contains perishables is delayed or un-claimed or if acceptance is refused at the place of destination, or threatened with deteriora-tion for any other reasons, the carrier may without further notice take all reasonable measures for its protection or the protection of third party interests, including but not limited to the request for instructions at the expense of the consignor, the destruction or surrender of the entire consignment or any part thereof, the storing of the consignment or any part thereof at the risk and on account of the consignor, the disposal of the consignment or any part thereof by public or private sale without prior notice. The proceeds of sale shall be used to settle all costs and expenses accrued to the carrier.
Article 9: Pick-up and Delivery Services
1. Availability of Service
Pick-up and delivery are made available at the relevant locations, subject to the rates and charges applicable to such services in accordance with the carrier’s tariffs.
2. Request for Service
Pick-up and delivery services – if any – shall be provided upon request of both,the consignor and consignee.
3. Consignment for which Service is Unavailable
Pick-up and delivery services for any consignment whose handling is difficult will be provided only upon special agreement.
4. Limitation of Services
Pick-up and delivery services are not provided if the operation of vehicles is impracticable or if the consignor's or consignee's address is not directly accessible to vehicles. Consignments are only delivered to loading ramps or carriage entrance directly accessible to vehi-cles.
5. Handling
Pick-up and delivery services are not provided for cargo that cannot be moved by one person unless otherwise agreed beforehand, including the possible deployment of further persons and devices by the consignor or consignee at their risk and expense.
6. Hours of Service
Unless otherwise agreed with the carrier beforehand, pick-up and delivery services will be provided only during regular business hours and on regularly scheduled vehicles.
7. Attempt at Delivery
Consignments which without fault of the carrier cannot be delivered to the consignee upon initial attempt at delivery will be returned to the carrier’s place of dispatch. The consignee shall be informed thereof. Any further attempts will be made only upon request of the consignee, and an additional charge based on the published tariffs will be invoiced for each fur-ther attempt at delivery.
Article 10: Forwarding and Re-Forwarding
The consignments stated in the air waybill will be taken on at the place of departure in the carrier’s terminal building or its branch office at the airport, for carriage to the airport of destination. If expressly agreed, these consignments will also be taken on for forwarding to the airport of departure and/or re-forwarding from the airport of destination. If the carrier handles such forward-ing or re-forwarding, this shall be subject to the same provisions regarding liability as set forth in Articles 1, 12 and 13 of these Terms and Conditions of Carriage. In any other case the carrier issuing the air waybill and the last carrier respectively, upon forwarding and re-forwarding of the cargo, act only as agent of the consignor, owner or consignee, as the case may be. The consignor, owner or consignee hereby authorize these carriers to take all measures deemed advis-able for forwarding and ref-forwarding, including but not limited to the choice of means for for-warding and re-forwarding and routes (unless determined by the consignor in the air waybill), issuance and acceptance of the transport documents (also insofar as these contain provisions on the exclusion or limitation of liability) and the dispatch of the cargo without declaration of value, irrespective of any declaration of value in the air waybill.
Article 11: Successive Carriers
Any carriage to be performed by several successive carriers under one air waybill shall be regarded as one single carriage.
Article 12: Liability
1. General
With regard to the liability of the carrier, the carriage shall be subject to the regulations and limitations established by the convention applicable to the respective carriage, or by the national or international laws applicable to the respective carriage. The foregoing applies irrespective of whether the carriage is interrupted or the cargo is reloaded. Unless otherwise provided for by the applicable convention or law to the benefit of the consignor or consignee, the following shall apply:
2. Exclusion of Liability
a) The carrier does not assume any liability for loading or delivery periods, nor for any specific order of handling of cargo of the same carriages.
b) The carrier is not liable for any damage from additional carriage resulting from forwarding or re-forwarding or delivery services, unless proved to have been caused by gross negligence or intent on the part of the carrier.
c) The carrier is not liable for damage caused directly or indirectly by any compliance with laws, governmental regulations, requirements or orders or by any other event beyond the carrier’s control. The carrier is not liable when refusing carriage of a consignment after having decided with due discretion and in good faith that the laws and regulations which it deems applicable do not permit the carriage of the consignment.
d) The carrier is not liable for damage or destruction to or delay of a consignment caused by any object or animal contained therein. Consignors and consignees whose items cause damage or destruction to other consignments or to the carrier’s property shall be liable towards the carrier for any losses and costs incurred. The carrier may at any time without notice and without incurring any liability remove or destroy cargo and animals which might endanger aircrafts, persons or property.
e) The carrier is neither liable for any loss, damage or cost arising from the natural death, killing or injury of an animal, if caused by the conduct of the same or any other animal – such as biting, kicking, pushing or suffocating – nor for any loss, damage or cost caused or contributed by the condition, nature or disposition of the animals.
f) The carrier is in no event liable for the death or injury of a zoo keeper if caused or contributed by the condition or conduct of the animal.
g) Consignments exposed to deterioration or decay due to change of climate, temperature, height or for any other usual circumstance or due to the duration of the agreed carriage time are taken on by the carrier to the exclusion of any liability for loss or damage caused by deterioration or decay.
h) Unless otherwise provided for in these Terms and Conditions, the carrier is not liable for any indirect consequences of damage or for direct or consequential damage, including loss of turnover, profit or earnings, interest, lost business transactions, currency risks, production shortfall or penalties resulting from any carriages subject to these Terms and Conditions, irrespective of whether the carrier knew that any such damage might occur. Except for the scope of application of the Montreal Convention and the Montreal Protocol No. 4 this shall not apply to damage caused by gross negligence or willful act on the part of the carrier or its employees.
i) If the liability of the carrier is excluded or limited according to these Terms and Conditions, such exclusion or limitation shall likewise apply to any agents, employees, repre-sentatives or vicarious agents of the carrier, as well as for any carrier whose aircraft is used for the carriage and for the agents, employees, representatives or vicarious agents of the latter.
3. Liability for Damage to Cargo
Subject to Article 13, the carrier shall compensate for damage caused by destruction, delay, loss or damage of cargo, but only if the event causing the damage occurred during the carriage by air. The carrier is not liable if it proves that the destruction, loss or damage of the cargo was caused by one or several of the following circumstances:
the special nature of the cargo or any inherent defect of that cargo, defective packaging of the cargo performed by any person other than the carrier or its servants or agents,
an act of war (including terrorist acts) or an armed conflict,
an act of public authority carried out in connection with the entry, exit or transit of the cargo,
force majeure, in particular acts of God.
4. If the consignee (or any other person entitled to take delivery) is not delivered the entire consignment but only part thereof or if any part of a consignment is damaged, destroyed or lost, the liability of the carrier for the undelivered, damaged, destroyed or lost part shall be limited at the most proportionately on the basis of the weight, without any consideration of the value of the partial consignment or its contents.
5. Liability for Damage by Delay
The carrier is liable for damage by delay, unless proving that it and its servants or agents took all reasonable measures to prevent the damage or that it or they were not able to take such measures. Delay occurs if the cargo does not timely arrive at the place of destination. Whether carriage was delayed depends on the circumstances of each individual case. Article 13 clause 1 to 3 remains unaffected.
6. Contributory Negligence
If the damage was caused by any act or omission of the consignor, consignee or the person claiming damage, or if such act or omission contributed to the occurrence of damage (contributory negligence), the carrier will be entirely or partly released from liability.
Article 13: Limitation of Liability
1. General
The scope of the carrier’s liability depends on the regulations and limitations established by the convention applicable to the respective carriage, or by the national or international laws applicable to the respective carriage.
2. Limitation of Liability in Respect of Total Amounts
Unless otherwise provided for to the advantage of the legitimate claimant by the applicable Convention or by law, the following shall apply: The carrier is liable for destroyed, lost, damaged or delayed cargo only up to an amount of 22 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram.
3. Declaration of Value
The limitations of liability in respect of total amounts do not apply if the consignor has made, at the time when the cargo was handed over, a special declaration of interest in delivery at destination and has paid the requested surcharge. In that case the carrier shall pay a compensation for destruction, loss, damage or delay up to the amount of the declared value, unless it proves that the sum is higher than the consignor's actual interest in delivery at destination. All compensation claims are subject to proof of value.
4. Partial Delivery
If the consignee or any other person entitled to take delivery is not delivered the entire con-signment but only part thereof or if any part of a consignment is damaged, destroyed, lost or delayed, only the total weight of the packages concerned is relevant for the establishment of the maximum amount for which the carrier is liable (within the scope of application of the Warsaw Convention of 1929 only the total weight of the contents concerned), without any consideration of the value of the partial consignment or its contents.
5. Integrative Claim
All claims relating to a consignment may be asserted only as an integrative claim; all damage in connection with the consignment is compensated for upon settlement of such integrative claim.
Article 14: Actual Carrier
1. Liability of the Actual Carrier
If an actual carrier performs the whole or part of carriage under these Terms and Conditions of Carriage, both the contractual carrier and the actual carrier shall be subject to these Terms and Conditions unless otherwise provided for in these Terms and Conditions of Car-riage, the former for the whole of the carriage contemplated in the contract, the latter solely for the carriage which it performed.
2. Mutual Attribution
The acts and omissions of the actual carrier, as well as of its agents and vicarious agents acting within the scope of their employment shall, in relation to the carriage performed by the actual carrier, be deemed to be also those of the contractual carrier.
Article 15: Periods for Compensation Claims and Legal Actions
1. The unconditional acceptance of the cargo by the person entitled to take delivery constitutes, until proof to the contrary, a proof that the cargo has been delivered in faultless condition and in compliance with the contract of carriage.
2. If a legitimate claimant intends to assert claims for compensation due to damage, partial loss equaling damage or delay, the consignee must without undue delay inform the carrier by notification with sufficient description of the cargo concerned, the approximate time of damage and the details of the claim, in any event within 14 days (7 days within the scope of application of the Warsaw Convention of 1929) after acceptance of the cargo, and in the event of delay within 21 days (14 days within the scope of application of the Warsaw Con-vention of 1929) after the cargo was made available to the consignee.
3. If the consignee fails to comply with the notification period, any action against the carrier shall be excluded unless the latter fraudulently hindered the claimant to establish the facts to be notified or to issue the notification in due time.
4. All claims for damages against the carrier expire unless action for damages is brought within a preclusive period of two years, if the convention is applicable. If the convention does not apply to the carriage, the preclusive periods or statutes of limitations according to the respective national laws shall apply. The period commences on the day on which the aircraft arrived or should have arrived at the location of destination or on which the carriage was discontinued.
5. If the carrier grants compensation despite failure to comply with the notification period or period for filing action, this shall with regard to any additionally asserted claims not constitute any waiver on the part of the carrier to its right to invoke the failure to observe the time limits.
Article 16: Set-Off / Assignment
1. The set-off against claims of the carrier is only permissible if the respective claim is un-contested, acknowledged or has become non-appealable.
2. The consignor may assign any claims arising from contracts with the carrier only with the prior written consent of the latter.
Article 17: Governing Law / Place of Jurisdiction
Disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms and Conditions of Carriage are subject to Swiss Law. In the event of applicability of a Convention, an action for damages may only be brought within the sovereignty of one of the State Parties, at the choice of the claimant either at the court of the location where the headquarters of the carrier are situated or at the location of its branch office which concluded the contract, or at the court of the place of destination.
Article 18: Conflicting Law
If any provision contained in the air waybill or in these Terms and Conditions of Carriage is invalid because it contradicts applicable law, the validity of the air waybill or of the remaining Terms and Conditions of Carriage shall not be affected thereby. The invalid provision shall be replaced by a lawful provision closest to the economic content of the concluded contract of carriage in accordance with the respective applicable law.
Article 19: Modifications and Waivers
Provisions of the contract of carriage or these Terms and Conditions of Carriage cannot be validly changed, restricted or excluded by any agents, employees, representatives or vicarious agents of the carrier.
Article 20: Data Protection
1. By submitting any personal data to Carrier the Consignor consents to Carrier using this data for the purposes of Carrier (or its agents or subcontractors) performing their obligations under the relevant (Air) Waybill and these Conditions. In particular, the Consignor consents to Carrier sharing shipment data, including personal data, to Customs if such is necessary for customs clearance and Customs may record and use that data for customs, safety and security purposes as required in the frame of the clearance process. The Con-signor also consents to Carrier sharing this data with Carrier’s parent, its subsidiaries and branches, and confirms that Carrier can do the same with the Consignor’s personal data.
2. In relation to any data provided by the Consignor concerning a Consignee or third party in connection with a Carriage, the Consignor warrants that it has complied with applicable data protection laws including obtaining all necessary consents and approvals for the pro-vision of such data to Carrier and the processing by Carrier of this data for the performance of the Carriage.
3. Carrier has operations located around the world. As a result of the performance of a Carriage personal data concerning Consignors and Consignees may be transferred to the United States and other countries outside of the European Economic Area that may have different levels of protection towards personal data. By submitting the Carriage and by signing the Air Waybill the Consignor consents to the transfer of such personal data to those countries.
Approved by the Federal Office for Civil Aviation on September 25, 1986 (Article 4, Swiss Regulations on Carriage by Air).
Edition 2013 / In force as from 1st April 2013
General terms and conditions of carriage
Table of contents
Definitions / 1 Governing Law / 2 Scope of Application of the Terms and Conditions of Carriage / 3 Completion of the Air Waybill / 4 Freight Charges / 5 Acceptance of Cargo for Carriage / 6 Consignments in Transit / 7 Consignor’s Right to Dispose of the Cargo / 8 Delivery / 9 Pickup and Delivery / 10 Forwarding and Re-Forwarding / 11 Successive Carriers / 12 Liability / 13 Limitation of Liability / 14 Actual Carrier / 15 Periods for Compensation Claims and Legal Actions / 16 Set-Off / Assignment / 17 Governing Law / Place of Jurisdiction / 18 Conflicting Law / 19 Modifications and Waivers / 20 Data Protection
Definitions
Agent
means the person or enterprise who/which is expressly or tacitly authorised to act in the name or on behalf of the carrier and/or the consignor with regard to the carriage, unless otherwise provided for in the contract of carriage.
Air Waybill
means the deed named “Air Waybill” as completed by the consignor or on its behalf; it constitutes the proof of the contract between the consignor and the carrier on the carriage of cargo.
Cargo
means all items carried or to be carried in an aircraft, including postal items insofar as the Terms and Conditions of Carriage are applicable due to the valid international conventions. Unaccompanied baggage and animals carried under an air waybill are cargo within the scope of this definition.
Carriage
means the carriage of cargo by air or by land with or without charge on the basis of a contract of carriage by air.
Carriage Forward
means the collection of the freight charge stated on the air waybill from the consignee.
Carrier
means the airfreight carrier stated on the air waybill, or in the event of any other document within the meaning of Article 2 clause 3 the per-son named carrier in such other document, and each person carrying freight under the air waybill.
Cash on Delivery
means the collection by the carrier upon delivery of the consignment of the amount stated in the air waybill as being payable by the consignee to the consignor, based on an agreement between the consignor and the carrier (charge forward on value of cargo).
Code-Sharing
means the use of a non-operative flight number concurrent with the operative flight number of another carrier performing the carriage.
Consignee
means the person or company whose name or denomination is entered in the space provided therefor in the air waybill and to whom the carrier has to hand over the goods, subject to other instructions.
Consignor
means the person or enterprise whose name or denomination is entered as contracting partner in the provided space on the air waybill, upon conclusion of the contract of carriage.
Contract of Carriage
means the oral or written agreement between the consignor and the carrier relating to the carriage to be performed by the carrier, including the freight rates.
Convention
means one or several of the following conventions, insofar as it applies to the contract of carriage:
• Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air; done at Montreal on 28 May 1999 (Montreal Convention);
• Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air; signed at Warsaw on 12 October 1929 (Warsaw Convention);
• Warsaw Convention in the version of The Hague of 28 Septem-ber 1955;
• Montreal Protocol No. 4 of 25 September 1975 (MP 4);
• Convention, Supplementary to the Warsaw Convention, for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air Performed by a Person other than the Contracting Carrier, signed at Guadalajara on 18 September 1961 (Guadalajara Convention).
Days
means full calendar days, including Sundays and public holidays; upon establishment of a term of validity, the day of issuance of the carriage document or the day of flight departure is not counted.
Delivery Service
means the overland carriage of inbound consignments from the airport of destination to the address of the consignee or that of its designated agent or to the custody of the competent authorities, if required.
Freight Rates / Tariffs
means those weight- or value-related remunerations and fees of the carrier which apply to the carriage and kind of carriage chosen by the consignor on the date of the issuance of the air waybill or which are agreed between the parties to the contract.
Performing Carrier
means the airfreight carrier which on the basis of an authorisation of the contractual carrier performs the carriage as a whole or in part without being a successive carrier.
Pick-up Service
means the overland transport of outbound consignments from the pick-up point to the airport of departure.
Successive Carrier
means the airfreight carrier which under one air waybill performs the carriage with one or several other carriers as one single service.
Article 1: Governing Law
1. Any carriage performed by the carrier either itself or through third parties, including all services relating thereto which are either performed by itself or by such third party, are subject to:
a) the convention applicable to the carriage as applicable to the carriage,
b) the other national and international law insofar as applicable to the carriage,
c) any other national and international governmental regulations, orders and requirements insofar as applicable to the carriage,
d) these Terms and Conditions of Carriage and other conditions, rules, regulations and flight schedules as determined by the carrier (exclusive of the arrival and departure times set forth therein); these can be inspected at any branch office and at the airports from where the carrier operates scheduled air services.
2. For the purposes of the convention the agreed stoppage places, which can if necessary be changed by the carrier, shall be those places - except for the place of departure and the place of destination – indicated on the air waybill or scheduled as regular stopping places for the air route in the flight schedules of the carrier.
Article 2: Scope of Application of the Terms and Conditions of Carriage
1. Basis
None of the provisions of these Terms and Conditions of Carriage deviates from any mandatory or prevailing law to the detriment of the consignor or consignee, unless such deviations are permissible.
2. General
Any carriage of cargo, including all services relating thereto as set forth in the freight rates published in connection with these Terms and Conditions of Carriage, is in consideration of Article 1 subject to these Terms and Conditions of Carriage and to the published tariffs as in effect at the date of the issuance of the air waybill by the carrier, or to the tariffs agreed between the contracting parties. The carrier may appoint third parties to perform the owed carriage services.
3. Gratuitous Carriage
With regard to any gratuitous carriage, the carrier reserves the right to exclude the applicability of these Terms and Conditions as a whole or in part.
4. Charter Agreements
If cargo is transported on the basis of a charter agreement entered into with the carrier, the carriage shall be subject to the carrier’s applicable charter terms and conditions, if any. The present Terms and Conditions of Carriage apply only insofar as provided for in the charter agreement. If the carrier does not have any charter terms and conditions being applicable to the charter agreement, these Terms and Conditions of Carriage shall apply to the agreement unless the carrier reserves the right to exclude the applicability of all or any parts of these Terms and Conditions. In the event of any discrepancy between the provisions of these Terms and Conditions and the provisions of the charter agreement, the latter shall prevail. The consignor accepting carriage on the basis of a charter agreement thereby subjects to the provisions of these agreements irrespective of whether or not expressly agreed with the consignor.
5. Change without Notice
Unless otherwise provided for under applicable laws, governmental regulations, orders and requirements, these Terms and Conditions of Carriage as well as the published freight rates and charges are subject to change without prior notice. Any such change, however, may not be made after the date of issuance of the air waybill or of the other recording within the meaning of Article 3 clause 3 by the carrier.
6. Application to United States and Canada
These Terms do not apply to Carriage between places in the United States or in Canada or between a place in the United States or in Canada and any place outside thereof to which tariffs in force in those countries apply. The tariffs applicable to such Carriage are available for inspection at the offices of the Carrier.
Article 3: Completion of the Air Waybill
1. Air Waybill
Insofar as the carriage is subject to the provisions of the Warsaw Convention of 1929 or in the version of The Hague, the consignor shall complete the air waybill, or have it completed in his name, in the manner prescribed by the carrier and with the required number of copies. The consignor shall deliver the air waybill to the carrier upon handing over the cargo, or provide it to the carrier in electronic form. The carrier shall insert the freight rate and, if applicable, the fixed charges in the air waybill, or have these inserted. The carrier may request the consignor to complete, or have on its behalf completed, separate air waybills if there is more than one packing unit or if the cargo cannot be carried as one packing unit in one aircraft or if it cannot be carried under one single air waybill without violation of governmental requirements or regulations of the carrier.
2. Electronic Air Waybill
If the carrier provides for such possibility, the air waybill may be made out and/or stored in electronic form and signed by electronic signature as provided for this purpose by the carrier. Upon handing over of the cargo the air waybill must be physically available. The carrier may electronically store (scan) open accompanying freight documents; sentence 2 shall apply analogously. After electronic storage, the carrier is entitled to send accompanying freight documents requiring physical delivery directly to the place of destination, independent from the carriage of the cargo.
3. Other Recording
Insofar as the carriage is not subject to the regulations of the Warsaw Convention of 1929 or in the version of The Hague, the traditional air waybill may be replaced by any other kind of recording containing the particulars of the carriage to be performed. In such case the carrier shall upon request hand out to the consignor a confirmation of receipt of the cargo which enables an exact determination of the consignment and recourse to the statements made in such other recording. The carrier may use electronic means to prove delivery. Such other recording shall be equated with the air waybill and is in these Terms and Conditions of Carriage always covered by the term “air waybill”.
4. Visible Condition and State of the Cargo
If the condition and state of the cargo and/or the packaging is visibly defective, the consignor shall make a corresponding note in the air waybill. If the consignor fails to do so or if the note is unclear, the carrier may make a corresponding note or correction in the air waybill.
5. Preparation, Completion or Correction by the Carrier
Upon express or implied request of the consignor, the carrier may complete the air waybill itself; in such case it is assumed until proof to the contrary that the carrier has acted on behalf of the consignor. If the air waybill handed out together with the cargo does not contain all required particulars or is incorrect the carrier shall be entitled but not obliged to complete or correct it to the best of its knowledge.
6. Responsibility for Particulars
The consignor is liable towards the carrier and third parties for the correctness and completeness of all particulars inserted in the air waybill by it or any of its agents or by the carrier in accordance with clause 4 and 5; the same applies with regard to any particulars or declarations made by the consignor or its agents towards the carrier on the cargo or its value. The consignor is liable for any damage incurred by the carrier or third parties from any incorrectness, inaccuracy or incompleteness of the said particulars. In the case of consignments to be forwarded C.O.D., the consignor is solely responsible for entering the amount to be collected in the air waybill. The carrier is not liable for any omission to collect the cash on delivery amount if the consignor did not enter it or if the entry was incorrect.
7. Form, Changes
The carrier’s signature as well as the consignor's signature may be printed or replaced by a stamp. The carrier is not obliged to accept any air waybills whose entries were changed or erased. Insofar as declarations require written form the signature provided for within the meaning of clause 2 shall have equal standing if it allows the identification of the originator.
Article 4: Freight Charges
1. Applicable Freight Rates and Charges
The freight rates and charges applicable under these Terms and Conditions are those tariffs of the carrier which are in effect on the day of issuance of the air waybill or have been agreed between the contracting parties. The freight rates and charges apply to the chosen form and route of carriage.
2. Basis of Freight Charges
Freight charges and carriage fees depend on the higher of the total weight or total volume and, if applicable, on the surcharge on the form of carriage chosen by the consignor in accordance with the tariffs.
3. Services not Covered by the Freight Rates and Charges
The freight rates and charges apply to the carriage of cargo by air or by substitute land transportation between airports or other airfields at or near the designated locations. Unless expressly otherwise provided for in the published tariffs, the freight rates and charges do not cover the following services:
a) pick-up and delivery services to and from the airports from which the carrier performs its services,
b) storage fees,
c) insurance fees,
d) cash on delivery charges,
e) advanced charges,
f) costs incurred by the carrier upon customs clearing of the cargo, or incurred by third parties irrespective of whether these act as agents of the consignor, the consignee, the owner of the cargo, or the carrier,
g) charges or fines imposed or collected by competent authorities, including duties or taxes,
h) costs incurred by the carrier for repairing defective packaging,
i) freight charges for the carriage, reloading or return carriage of cargo with other means of transportation, as well as the freight charges for return carriage to the place of departure,
j) surcharges,
k) any other similar services or charges.
4. Payment of the Freight Rates
a) Freight rates and charges are stated in the currency resulting from the relevant freight tariffs. They can be paid in any currency acceptable to the carrier. If payment is made in any currency other than published by the carrier, it shall be made at the applicable exchange rate at the date of issuance of the air waybill.The provisions of this para-graph are subject to the applicable foreign exchange legislation and requirements of the competent authorities.
b) The full relevant freight rate, whether advanced or charged forward, as well as costs, duties, taxes, fees, expenses or other payments effected by the carrier or accrued or accruing to it as well as any other amounts to be paid to the carrier are considered as fully earned upon conclusion of the contract of carriage, whether or not the cargo is lost or damaged, or fails to arrive at the destination or otherwise cannot be delivered or timely delivered.
c) All freight rates, charges and other amounts are due and payable at the time when the cargo is handed over to the carrier. However, the carrier may also charge them over on the occasion of any service based on the air waybill.
d) With regard to all charges, expenses and costs which cannot be finally determined at the time when the cargo is handed over for carriage, the carrier may request the consignor to deposit an amount which the carrier regards as adequate for covering these charges, expenses and costs. Any residual amount owed by the carrier to the consignor or by the consignor to the carrier in connection with this deposit shall be settled after performance of the contract of carriage and after determination of the exact amount of these costs and expenses.
e) The consignor undertakes to pay all unpaid charges, costs and expenses of the carrier. The consignor furthermore undertakes to pay all costs, expenses, fines, penalties, default and other damage possibly accruing to or incurred by the carrier due to the fact that the cargo comprises items whose carriage is prohibited by law or due to the fact of unlawful, incorrect or insufficient description, labeling, numbering, addressing or packaging of the cargo without the damage being caused by the absence, delay or incorrectness of an export or import permit, other incorrect certificates or documents or by wrong customs valuation or incorrect statements as to weight or volume. By accepting the consignment or exercising any other rights under the contract of carriage, the consignee undertakes to pay the charges, fees and expenses, unless paid in advance; however, this does not release the consignor from its corresponding payment obligations. In respect of the foregoing, the carrier has a retention right relating to the cargo handed over to it for carriage by the consignor or by any third party acting on its behalf. If payment is not effected, the carrier will be entitled to dispose of the cargo by public sale or sale in the open market, provided the carrier has informed the consignor or consignee accordingly prior to such sale by written notification sent by mail to the address stated in the air waybill; the carrier is entitled to satisfy itself from the proceeds of such sale as to all amounts owed. However, such sale does not constitute a release from the obligation to pay any shortfall amounts for which the consignor and the consignee remain liable. The carrier’s right to retention, sale and collection of the owed amounts is not forfeited or affected by acknowledgement of the payment obligation, unless payment has actually been made or, insofar as the carrier’s right to collect the owed amounts is concerned, unless the cargo has been delivered or possession thereof has been transferred.
f) If the gross weight, measurements, number of items or declared value of the cargo exceed the figures taken as a basis for the calculation of the freight rates and charges, the carrier will be entitled to subsequently request payment of the freight rates and charges corresponding to the exceeding.
g) Consignments subject to carriage forward are taken on for carriage to such countries specified in the tariffs and in accordance with the provisions set forth therein. In any event the carrier is entitled to deny consignments subject to carriage forward to a country whose regulations do not permit the exchange of money into other currencies or the transfer of money to other countries, or deny carriage forward consignments for other reasons. Information on countries to which carriage forward consignments are possible can be obtained at the carrier’s office premises.
Article 5: Acceptance of Cargo for Carriage
1. Value Limits for One Aircraft
The carrier determines the limit of the value of a consignment or a group of consignments which may be carried in one single aircraft. If any individual consignment exceeds such limit, it may not be carried in one aircraft but is apportioned to two or several aircrafts at the carrier’s due discretion. The carrier is entitled to deny the carriage of consignments in one aircraft if the declared total value would lead to a violation of this principle.
2. Packaging and Labeling of the Cargo; Declaration of Value
a) The consignor shall package the cargo for safe carriage by air in a manner suitable to protect it against loss, damage or deterioration and preventing personal injury or damage to property. Consignments at risk from robbery or theft shall be neutrally packaged without indication of their contents. Each packing unit must bear the name and full postal address of both consignor and consignee in a legible and permanent manner.
b) Hazardous materials must be marked as such in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If accepted for carriage, the consignor shall send hazardous materials as well as valuable cargo or live animals by the carriage form provided for the carriage of such cargo by the carrier, including the surcharge published for such case.
c) With regard to each handing over of cargo for carriage, the consignor may state (particularly declare) its interest in delivery to the place of destination in figures and to pay the requested surcharge.
d) In the event of cash on delivery consignments, the consignor shall legibly write the letters “C.O.D.” on each individual packing item, in addition to the names and addresses of both consignor and consignee.
3. Permissible Cargo
Subject to the availability of suitable facilities and space, the carrier shall carry general merchandise and other goods, commodities and products of all kinds, unless carriage of the same is expressly excluded, provided, however, that
the carriage, export or import is not prohibited by the laws of a country from which, to which or through which the flight takes place,
the cargo must be packaged in a manner suitable for carriage by air,
the cargo must be accompanied by the required shipping documents,
the cargo must not endanger the aircraft, the safety of the flight, persons or objects or cause annoyance to passengers.
4. Cargo Admitted only under Specific Conditions
Explosives, live animals, perishables and other items specified in the applicable regulations of the carrier are accepted only at the conditions provided for therein.
5. Responsibility for Non-Compliance with the Conditions for Cargo Admitted Subject to Restrictions
The consignor is responsible for the compliance with the conditions for cargo which is not admitted for carriage or admitted subject to restrictions and insofar undertakes to compensate the carrier for any loss, damage, delay, liability or penalty which might accrue to it from the carriage of such cargo.
6. Cancellation of Carriage
The carrier may without liability on its part cancel the carriage of a consignment if the con-signor despite demand of payment refuses to settle the freight rate or a requested part thereof.
7. Carrier’s Right of Inspection
The carrier is entitled but not obliged to inspect the contents of all consignments.
8. Tracking Devices
Any active tracking devices – i.e. equipment placed on or in a consignment by the consignor to monitor its progress and/or to record transport or consignment-related data and to automatically transmit such information – must be declared to the carrier when booking the consignment at the latest, stating the product being used for such purposes. Such active tracking devices will only be permitted provided they have been specifically developed for use on board aircraft and have been duly certificated in accordance with official requirements, or provided they comply with the carrier’s own specific terms and conditions. The use of such devices shall not entail any additional duties or obligations on the part of the carrier. Such tracking devices may only be used for quality assurance purposes, and any data gained therefrom may not be used in justification of any claims or entitlements.
Article 6: Consignments in Transit
1. Compliance with Orders of Competent Authorities
The consignor must comply with all applicable laws, customs and other governmental regulations of any country from, through, over or to which the cargo is carried, including those on packaging, labeling and marking, carriage or delivery of the cargo and shall furnish all statements and attach all documents to the air waybill required for the compliance with statutory requirements. The carrier is not obliged to verify the correctness or completeness of these statements or documents. The carrier is not liable toward the consignor or third parties for any loss or costs incurred due to the consignor's failure to comply with these requirements.
2. Cash Expenses and Customs Formalities
The carrier is entitled but not obliged to make advance payments on customs, taxes or charges and to make expenses with regard to the cargo. With regard to the reimbursement of such amounts, the consignor and the consignee are each liable individually and as joint and several debtors. No carrier is obliged to assume costs or make advance payments in connection with the carriage or return carriage of the cargo except against prior payment by the consignor. If cargo at any location requires import through customs, the cargo shall be deemed to be addressed to the person named in the air waybill as customs consignee or, if such person is not named therein, to the carrier carrying the cargo to such location or to the customs consignee stated by the carrier. For any such purpose, a copy of the air waybill, certified by the carrier, shall be deemed an original.
3. Flight Schedules, Routing, Aircrafts, and Cancellations of Flights
a) Unless the contracting parties expressly agreed otherwise on departure and delivery times for the cargo to be carried, no times are fixed for the start and performance of car-riage or for the delivery of the cargo. Unless expressly agreed in accordance with sen-tence 1, the carrier does not assume any obligation to carry the cargo on a specific aircraft, under a specific flight number or on a specific route or to catch a connecting flight anywhere according to a specific flight schedule. The carrier is obliged to choose the route or routes for the consignment according to capacities or availabilities or to deviate therefrom even if stated in the air waybill. Thus, neither the times stated in the flight schedules nor otherwise, nor the flight number or flight dates entered in the air waybill constitute an express agreement within the meaning of sentence 1; the rights of the beneficiary resulting from delay shall remain unaffected thereby. No employee, agent, representative or vicarious agent shall be entitled to place the carrier under any obligation by declarations or determinations on the dates or times of departure or arrival or on the operation of a flight.
b) The contract of carriage does not include any guarantee for an aircraft to be used for carriage or for its suitability for carriage of the cargo to which the contract of carriage refers. The carrier may without notice deploy another carrier or a substitute aircraft. In this respect, the carrier may also perform code-sharing.
c) The carrier may without notice cancel, terminate, change, reschedule or postpone any flight or any right to further carriage or continue a flight without or only with part of the cargo if it considers this advisable for the following reasons:
(I) due to any event beyond its control (including, but not limited to: weather conditions, acts of God, force majeure, strikes, riots, political disturbances, embargoes, wars, hostilities, civil commotions, unstable international conditions, terrorism or governmental warnings against terrorism or war); in this respect it is irrelevant whether the event has in fact occurred or is only threatened or announced or whether this directly or indirectly results in a delay, claim, requirement, incident or predicament, or
(II) due to any event which could not reasonably be foreseen, expected or anticipated, or
(III) due to governmental regulations, orders or requirements, or
(IV) due to any shortage of labor, fuel or facilities or due to labor-related difficulties of the carrier or any third party deployed by it.
d) If a flight is cancelled or rescheduled or ends at any location other than the place of destination for any reason set forth under c) above, or if the carriage of a consignment is cancelled, rescheduled, brought forward or terminated, the carrier shall not be under any liability with respect thereto. If the carriage of the consignment or part thereof is terminated, its delivery by the carrier to a forwarding agent for further carriage, delivery or storage shall be considered as proper delivery according to the air waybill; the carrier is no longer liable but merely obliged to notify the consignor or consignee at the address stated in the air waybill about the disposal of the consignment. The carrier is entitled but not obliged to carry the consignment via any other route or to forward it by any other means of transportation as representative of the consignor or consignee. The costs in-curred thereby shall be added to the freight rate. If the carrier is responsible for the cancellation, rescheduling or termination of carriage at any location other than the one stated in the air waybill, the consignment shall be delivered at the choice and at the expense of the carrier.
e) Within the scope of applicable laws and regulations, the carrier is entitled to determine the priority of any carriage both between consignments and between consignments and other cargo, mail or passengers, and to decide which items are to be carried or not or which are to be unloaded at any time or at any place; the carrier may continue any flight without any or without individual parts of a consignment.
4. Carrier's Rights to Dispose of Consignments in Transit
If the carrier deems it necessary to hold any consignment at any place during or after carriage for preventing damage or danger the carrier may store the consignment at the expense, risk and cost of the consignor and/or consignee at a storehouse or any other available place or with the customs authorities, notifying the consignor and/or consignee at the address stated in the air waybill; the carrier may also hand over the consignment to any other carrier for further carriage to the consignee. Consignor and consignee are jointly and severally liable towards the carrier for any expenses or risks arising from the foregoing and have to reimburse the carrier accordingly.
Article 7: Consignor’s Right to Dispose of the Cargo
1. Consignor’s Right to Dispose of the Cargo
The consignor is entitled to dispose of the consignment as follows, subject to compliance with all obligations resulting from the contract of carriage and clause 2 and provided that the right to dispose is not exercised in such manner as to prejudice the carrier or the other con-signors. The consignor may
a) have the consignment returned to it at the airport of departure or arrival,
b) stop the consignment at any landing,
c) have the consignment delivered at the place of destination or in transit to any person other than the consignee stated in the air waybill or
d) have it returned to the airport of departure.
2. Exercise of the Disposal Right
The right to dispose of the cargo may be exercised only by the consignor or its designated agent and must extend to the entire consignment to be carried under an air waybill. The right to dispose of the cargo can be exercised only if the consignor or its agent presents the part of the air waybill that was given to it. Any disposal instructions must be given in writing and in the form prescribed by the carrier. If the exercise of right of disposal results in a change of consignee, the new consignee shall be deemed to be the one named in the air waybill.
3. Payment of Costs
The consignor shall be liable and obliged to compensate the carrier for any loss or damage sustained as a result of the exercise of the right of disposal. The consignor shall reimburse the carrier for all costs incurred by the exercise of its right of disposal.
4. Carrier’s Inability to Follow the Instructions
If the carrier considers it impracticable to follow the consignor's instructions, it shall without undue delay inform the consignor accordingly. The costs incurred thereby shall be added to the freight rate.
5. Scope of Consignor’s Right
The consignor’s right of disposal expires upon arrival of the cargo at the place of destination. If the consignee refuses to accept the cargo or - within the scope of application of the Warsaw Convention of 1929 or 1955, respectively - the air waybill, or if the consignee is unavailable, the consignor’s right of disposal shall be reinstated.
Article 8: Delivery
1. Delivery to Consignee
a) Unless expressly otherwise provided for in the air waybill, the consignment shall be de-livered to the consignee named in the relevant field of the air waybill. The consignment is deemed to have been delivered to the consignee if it has been delivered to customs or any other competent authority in accordance with the applicable laws or customs requirements, when the carrier has submitted an authorization to the consignee enabling the same to obtain release of the consignment and when the carrier has sent the arrival notification required under clause 2 of this Article (“Notification of Arrival”).
b) The carrier delivers the consignment only against written receipt of the consignee and upon compliance with all other requirements stated in the air waybill and these Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
2. Notice of Arrival
Unless the consignment is to be forwarded in accordance with Article 10 and in the absence of deviating instructions, the consignee or the person to be notified shall be informed of the arrival of the consignment; the notification may at the carrier's choice be given either in writing or orally, also by telephone. The written notification can also be given by fax or by electronic mail (e-mail). The carrier is not liable for non-receipt or delay in receipt of the notification.
3. Place of Delivery
Insofar as delivery to the address of the consignee has not been agreed between the con-signor or the consignee and the carrier, the consignee shall accept delivery and collect of the consignment at the airport of destination.
4. Failure of Consignee to Take Delivery
a) If the consignee refuses or omits to take delivery of the consignment after its arrival at the place of delivery set forth in the air waybill, the carrier shall - subject to the provision of clause 5 ("Disposal of Perishables") - try to follow the consignor’s instructions on the air waybill, if any. If no such instructions are given or if they cannot reasonably be fol-lowed, the carrier may after notification of the consignor about the non-acceptance by the consignee take the following measures. The carrier may
return the consignment to the airport of departure, either by its own means or by any other way, and there wait for the consignor's instructions, or
sell the consignment by public or private sale as a whole or in several parts after at least 30 days of storage.
b) Consignor and consignee are jointly and severally liable for all costs and expenses re-sulting from or in connection with the non-acceptance of the consignment, including the freight charges arising from the return of the consignment. If the consignment is returned to the airport of departure, and if the consignor or owner refuses or fails to make such payment within 14 days after the return, the carrier may by public or private sale dispose of the consignment or parts thereof after having notified the consignor of its intention at the address stated in the air waybill with a notice period of ten days.
c) In the event of a sale of the cargo in accordance with the foregoing provisions either at the place of destination or at the place to which the consignment was returned, the carrier shall be entitled to reimburse to itself and third parties all costs of freight, charges, advance payments and expenses plus costs of sale accrued to itself and other rightful claimants; a possible surplus amount shall be made available to the consignor. The sale of a consignment, however, does not release the consignor and the owner from the obli-gation to pay shortfall amounts, if any.
5. Disposal of Perishables
If any consignment in the carrier's possession which contains perishables is delayed or un-claimed or if acceptance is refused at the place of destination, or threatened with deteriora-tion for any other reasons, the carrier may without further notice take all reasonable measures for its protection or the protection of third party interests, including but not limited to the request for instructions at the expense of the consignor, the destruction or surrender of the entire consignment or any part thereof, the storing of the consignment or any part thereof at the risk and on account of the consignor, the disposal of the consignment or any part thereof by public or private sale without prior notice. The proceeds of sale shall be used to settle all costs and expenses accrued to the carrier.
Article 9: Pick-up and Delivery Services
1. Availability of Service
Pick-up and delivery are made available at the relevant locations, subject to the rates and charges applicable to such services in accordance with the carrier’s tariffs.
2. Request for Service
Pick-up and delivery services – if any – shall be provided upon request of both,the consignor and consignee.
3. Consignment for which Service is Unavailable
Pick-up and delivery services for any consignment whose handling is difficult will be provided only upon special agreement.
4. Limitation of Services
Pick-up and delivery services are not provided if the operation of vehicles is impracticable or if the consignor's or consignee's address is not directly accessible to vehicles. Consignments are only delivered to loading ramps or carriage entrance directly accessible to vehi-cles.
5. Handling
Pick-up and delivery services are not provided for cargo that cannot be moved by one person unless otherwise agreed beforehand, including the possible deployment of further persons and devices by the consignor or consignee at their risk and expense.
6. Hours of Service
Unless otherwise agreed with the carrier beforehand, pick-up and delivery services will be provided only during regular business hours and on regularly scheduled vehicles.
7. Attempt at Delivery
Consignments which without fault of the carrier cannot be delivered to the consignee upon initial attempt at delivery will be returned to the carrier’s place of dispatch. The consignee shall be informed thereof. Any further attempts will be made only upon request of the consignee, and an additional charge based on the published tariffs will be invoiced for each fur-ther attempt at delivery.
Article 10: Forwarding and Re-Forwarding
The consignments stated in the air waybill will be taken on at the place of departure in the carrier’s terminal building or its branch office at the airport, for carriage to the airport of destination. If expressly agreed, these consignments will also be taken on for forwarding to the airport of departure and/or re-forwarding from the airport of destination. If the carrier handles such forward-ing or re-forwarding, this shall be subject to the same provisions regarding liability as set forth in Articles 1, 12 and 13 of these Terms and Conditions of Carriage. In any other case the carrier issuing the air waybill and the last carrier respectively, upon forwarding and re-forwarding of the cargo, act only as agent of the consignor, owner or consignee, as the case may be. The consignor, owner or consignee hereby authorize these carriers to take all measures deemed advis-able for forwarding and ref-forwarding, including but not limited to the choice of means for for-warding and re-forwarding and routes (unless determined by the consignor in the air waybill), issuance and acceptance of the transport documents (also insofar as these contain provisions on the exclusion or limitation of liability) and the dispatch of the cargo without declaration of value, irrespective of any declaration of value in the air waybill.
Article 11: Successive Carriers
Any carriage to be performed by several successive carriers under one air waybill shall be regarded as one single carriage.
Article 12: Liability
1. General
With regard to the liability of the carrier, the carriage shall be subject to the regulations and limitations established by the convention applicable to the respective carriage, or by the national or international laws applicable to the respective carriage. The foregoing applies irrespective of whether the carriage is interrupted or the cargo is reloaded. Unless otherwise provided for by the applicable convention or law to the benefit of the consignor or consignee, the following shall apply:
2. Exclusion of Liability
a) The carrier does not assume any liability for loading or delivery periods, nor for any specific order of handling of cargo of the same carriages.
b) The carrier is not liable for any damage from additional carriage resulting from forwarding or re-forwarding or delivery services, unless proved to have been caused by gross negligence or intent on the part of the carrier.
c) The carrier is not liable for damage caused directly or indirectly by any compliance with laws, governmental regulations, requirements or orders or by any other event beyond the carrier’s control. The carrier is not liable when refusing carriage of a consignment after having decided with due discretion and in good faith that the laws and regulations which it deems applicable do not permit the carriage of the consignment.
d) The carrier is not liable for damage or destruction to or delay of a consignment caused by any object or animal contained therein. Consignors and consignees whose items cause damage or destruction to other consignments or to the carrier’s property shall be liable towards the carrier for any losses and costs incurred. The carrier may at any time without notice and without incurring any liability remove or destroy cargo and animals which might endanger aircrafts, persons or property.
e) The carrier is neither liable for any loss, damage or cost arising from the natural death, killing or injury of an animal, if caused by the conduct of the same or any other animal – such as biting, kicking, pushing or suffocating – nor for any loss, damage or cost caused or contributed by the condition, nature or disposition of the animals.
f) The carrier is in no event liable for the death or injury of a zoo keeper if caused or contributed by the condition or conduct of the animal.
g) Consignments exposed to deterioration or decay due to change of climate, temperature, height or for any other usual circumstance or due to the duration of the agreed carriage time are taken on by the carrier to the exclusion of any liability for loss or damage caused by deterioration or decay.
h) Unless otherwise provided for in these Terms and Conditions, the carrier is not liable for any indirect consequences of damage or for direct or consequential damage, including loss of turnover, profit or earnings, interest, lost business transactions, currency risks, production shortfall or penalties resulting from any carriages subject to these Terms and Conditions, irrespective of whether the carrier knew that any such damage might occur. Except for the scope of application of the Montreal Convention and the Montreal Protocol No. 4 this shall not apply to damage caused by gross negligence or willful act on the part of the carrier or its employees.
i) If the liability of the carrier is excluded or limited according to these Terms and Conditions, such exclusion or limitation shall likewise apply to any agents, employees, repre-sentatives or vicarious agents of the carrier, as well as for any carrier whose aircraft is used for the carriage and for the agents, employees, representatives or vicarious agents of the latter.
3. Liability for Damage to Cargo
Subject to Article 13, the carrier shall compensate for damage caused by destruction, delay, loss or damage of cargo, but only if the event causing the damage occurred during the carriage by air. The carrier is not liable if it proves that the destruction, loss or damage of the cargo was caused by one or several of the following circumstances:
the special nature of the cargo or any inherent defect of that cargo, defective packaging of the cargo performed by any person other than the carrier or its servants or agents,
an act of war (including terrorist acts) or an armed conflict,
an act of public authority carried out in connection with the entry, exit or transit of the cargo,
force majeure, in particular acts of God.
4. If the consignee (or any other person entitled to take delivery) is not delivered the entire consignment but only part thereof or if any part of a consignment is damaged, destroyed or lost, the liability of the carrier for the undelivered, damaged, destroyed or lost part shall be limited at the most proportionately on the basis of the weight, without any consideration of the value of the partial consignment or its contents.
5. Liability for Damage by Delay
The carrier is liable for damage by delay, unless proving that it and its servants or agents took all reasonable measures to prevent the damage or that it or they were not able to take such measures. Delay occurs if the cargo does not timely arrive at the place of destination. Whether carriage was delayed depends on the circumstances of each individual case. Article 13 clause 1 to 3 remains unaffected.
6. Contributory Negligence
If the damage was caused by any act or omission of the consignor, consignee or the person claiming damage, or if such act or omission contributed to the occurrence of damage (contributory negligence), the carrier will be entirely or partly released from liability.
Article 13: Limitation of Liability
1. General
The scope of the carrier’s liability depends on the regulations and limitations established by the convention applicable to the respective carriage, or by the national or international laws applicable to the respective carriage.
2. Limitation of Liability in Respect of Total Amounts
Unless otherwise provided for to the advantage of the legitimate claimant by the applicable Convention or by law, the following shall apply: The carrier is liable for destroyed, lost, damaged or delayed cargo only up to an amount of 22 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram.
3. Declaration of Value
The limitations of liability in respect of total amounts do not apply if the consignor has made, at the time when the cargo was handed over, a special declaration of interest in delivery at destination and has paid the requested surcharge. In that case the carrier shall pay a compensation for destruction, loss, damage or delay up to the amount of the declared value, unless it proves that the sum is higher than the consignor's actual interest in delivery at destination. All compensation claims are subject to proof of value.
4. Partial Delivery
If the consignee or any other person entitled to take delivery is not delivered the entire con-signment but only part thereof or if any part of a consignment is damaged, destroyed, lost or delayed, only the total weight of the packages concerned is relevant for the establishment of the maximum amount for which the carrier is liable (within the scope of application of the Warsaw Convention of 1929 only the total weight of the contents concerned), without any consideration of the value of the partial consignment or its contents.
5. Integrative Claim
All claims relating to a consignment may be asserted only as an integrative claim; all damage in connection with the consignment is compensated for upon settlement of such integrative claim.
Article 14: Actual Carrier
1. Liability of the Actual Carrier
If an actual carrier performs the whole or part of carriage under these Terms and Conditions of Carriage, both the contractual carrier and the actual carrier shall be subject to these Terms and Conditions unless otherwise provided for in these Terms and Conditions of Car-riage, the former for the whole of the carriage contemplated in the contract, the latter solely for the carriage which it performed.
2. Mutual Attribution
The acts and omissions of the actual carrier, as well as of its agents and vicarious agents acting within the scope of their employment shall, in relation to the carriage performed by the actual carrier, be deemed to be also those of the contractual carrier.
Article 15: Periods for Compensation Claims and Legal Actions
1. The unconditional acceptance of the cargo by the person entitled to take delivery constitutes, until proof to the contrary, a proof that the cargo has been delivered in faultless condition and in compliance with the contract of carriage.
2. If a legitimate claimant intends to assert claims for compensation due to damage, partial loss equaling damage or delay, the consignee must without undue delay inform the carrier by notification with sufficient description of the cargo concerned, the approximate time of damage and the details of the claim, in any event within 14 days (7 days within the scope of application of the Warsaw Convention of 1929) after acceptance of the cargo, and in the event of delay within 21 days (14 days within the scope of application of the Warsaw Con-vention of 1929) after the cargo was made available to the consignee.
3. If the consignee fails to comply with the notification period, any action against the carrier shall be excluded unless the latter fraudulently hindered the claimant to establish the facts to be notified or to issue the notification in due time.
4. All claims for damages against the carrier expire unless action for damages is brought within a preclusive period of two years, if the convention is applicable. If the convention does not apply to the carriage, the preclusive periods or statutes of limitations according to the respective national laws shall apply. The period commences on the day on which the aircraft arrived or should have arrived at the location of destination or on which the carriage was discontinued.
5. If the carrier grants compensation despite failure to comply with the notification period or period for filing action, this shall with regard to any additionally asserted claims not constitute any waiver on the part of the carrier to its right to invoke the failure to observe the time limits.
Article 16: Set-Off / Assignment
1. The set-off against claims of the carrier is only permissible if the respective claim is un-contested, acknowledged or has become non-appealable.
2. The consignor may assign any claims arising from contracts with the carrier only with the prior written consent of the latter.
Article 17: Governing Law / Place of Jurisdiction
Disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms and Conditions of Carriage are subject to Swiss Law. In the event of applicability of a Convention, an action for damages may only be brought within the sovereignty of one of the State Parties, at the choice of the claimant either at the court of the location where the headquarters of the carrier are situated or at the location of its branch office which concluded the contract, or at the court of the place of destination.
Article 18: Conflicting Law
If any provision contained in the air waybill or in these Terms and Conditions of Carriage is invalid because it contradicts applicable law, the validity of the air waybill or of the remaining Terms and Conditions of Carriage shall not be affected thereby. The invalid provision shall be replaced by a lawful provision closest to the economic content of the concluded contract of carriage in accordance with the respective applicable law.
Article 19: Modifications and Waivers
Provisions of the contract of carriage or these Terms and Conditions of Carriage cannot be validly changed, restricted or excluded by any agents, employees, representatives or vicarious agents of the carrier.
Article 20: Data Protection
1. By submitting any personal data to Carrier the Consignor consents to Carrier using this data for the purposes of Carrier (or its agents or subcontractors) performing their obligations under the relevant (Air) Waybill and these Conditions. In particular, the Consignor consents to Carrier sharing shipment data, including personal data, to Customs if such is necessary for customs clearance and Customs may record and use that data for customs, safety and security purposes as required in the frame of the clearance process. The Con-signor also consents to Carrier sharing this data with Carrier’s parent, its subsidiaries and branches, and confirms that Carrier can do the same with the Consignor’s personal data.
2. In relation to any data provided by the Consignor concerning a Consignee or third party in connection with a Carriage, the Consignor warrants that it has complied with applicable data protection laws including obtaining all necessary consents and approvals for the pro-vision of such data to Carrier and the processing by Carrier of this data for the performance of the Carriage.
3. Carrier has operations located around the world. As a result of the performance of a Carriage personal data concerning Consignors and Consignees may be transferred to the United States and other countries outside of the European Economic Area that may have different levels of protection towards personal data. By submitting the Carriage and by signing the Air Waybill the Consignor consents to the transfer of such personal data to those countries.
Approved by the Federal Office for Civil Aviation on September 25, 1986 (Article 4, Swiss Regulations on Carriage by Air).
Edition 2013 / In force as from 1st April 2013