Aviation B2B: charter, wet lease, handling & ground services — contracts and disputes (group matters)

For operators, brokers, airlines, handlers and airport service providers, small contract gaps can become operational disputes. We help structure, review and negotiate agreements (including SLAs), and manage disputes arising from performance, incidents, payments, liability allocation and termination. Where multiple contracts and stakeholders are involved (charter chain, wet lease + handling + ground services), we can coordinate a consolidated strategy. The information is general and does not replace legal advice. Facts, documents and the timeline matter. (Informațiile sunt generale și nu înlocuiesc consultanța juridică. Contează faptele, actele și cronologia.)

When you may need this

Charter agreement disputes: changes, delays, cancellations, no-shows, or payment terms.
Wet lease matters: ACMI scope, operational control, compliance responsibilities and approvals.
Ground handling issues: turnaround delays, baggage/cargo damage, incident reporting, service quality.
Disputed invoices, rate cards, minimums, penalties, or set-off claims.
Indemnities and liability caps: negotiation or enforcement after an incident.
Termination disputes, step-in rights, continuity of operations, and transition support.
Cross-border governing law, jurisdiction, arbitration, and enforcement planning.
Multi-party chain disputes (broker, operator, handler, airport, subcontractors).

What we do, step by step

Map the contract chain and responsibilities (who owes what to whom, operationally and financially).
Review the contract(s): scope, SLAs, change control, delay regimes, force majeure, termination and step-in.
Identify compliance and approval touchpoints (licensing, operational rules, insurance, reporting).
Draft redlines and negotiate key risk clauses: indemnities, limitation of liability, payment security, audit and documentation duties.
Prepare incident and claim files (evidence, notices, timeline, technical input).
Manage negotiation and pre-dispute correspondence, preserving rights and remedies.
Coordinate dispute resolution (negotiation, mediation/ADR, arbitration or court route) and enforcement planning.

Documents & information useful for the first review

Document	Why it matters	Notes
Executed contract(s) + annexes	Defines scope, SLAs, fees, and risk allocation	Include amendments, rate cards, and service descriptions
Operational correspondence	Shows changes, notices, and performance issues	Email threads, meeting minutes, incident reports
Invoices & payment proof	Core for fee/debt disputes	Bank confirmations, reconciliation, set-off positions
Operational records	Supports factual positions	Turnaround logs, delay codes, load sheets where relevant
Insurance certificates	Supports coverage and allocation	Check limits, exclusions, and named insureds
Notices & timelines	Often decisive for remedies	Breach notices, termination notices, cure periods

Risks & common mistakes

Unclear scope and SLAs (especially turnaround times, quality metrics, and acceptance criteria).
Payment clauses that do not match operational reality (unclear triggers, unclear penalties).
Indemnities and liability caps that do not reflect the real risk profile.
Weak change control: ad-hoc changes without written confirmation create disputes.
Missing or late notices (breach, incident, termination) that prejudice rights.
Governing law/jurisdiction clauses that are incompatible with the business model or enforcement needs.
Evidence scattered across stakeholders, making incident reconstruction difficult.

FAQ

Can you review a charter or handling contract before signature?

Yes. We focus on operational clauses, risk allocation, payment triggers, and dispute mechanisms, and propose concrete redlines tailored to the transaction.

Wet lease: who is responsible for compliance and approvals?

Responsibility depends on the model and contract. We map operational control and align it with the applicable rules and approvals.

What should we do first when a dispute escalates?

Secure evidence, check notice obligations and deadlines, and send structured communications that preserve rights and options.

Do you handle multi-party chains (broker, operator, handler, airport)?

Yes. We consolidate the contractual chain and coordinate strategy to avoid inconsistent positions and duplicated exposure.

Can this be resolved without litigation?

Often yes, if notices, evidence and settlement structure are handled correctly. We still plan for enforceability if negotiations fail.

Contact

Call