Air Tahiti Nui Pty Limited v McKenzie [2009] NSWCA 429

Reported Decision: 264 ALR 709239 FLR 36777 NSWLR 299

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Air Tahiti Nui Pty Limited v McKenzie [2009] NSWCA 429

HEARING DATE(S): 8 October 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 21 December 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Allsop P at 1; Hodgson JA at 100; Handley AJA at 1

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: AIR LAW – personal injury of passenger – proper defendant – Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) - Montreal Convention No 4 – Guadalajara Convention – identity of contracting carrier – French parent company actual carrier – whether Australian subsidiary made an agreement for carriage as principal – Australian company liable as contracting carrier - ESTOPPEL – estoppel by representation – whether claims under Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act are subject to the law of estoppel – contract formation governed by domestic law – estopped by representation from denying entry into agreement for carriage - Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth)

Air Navigation Act 1920 (Cth) Business Names Act 1962 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth) Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Air Link Pty v Paterson [2005] HCA 39; 223 CLR 283 Amalgamated Investment & Property Co Ltd v Texas Commerce International Bank Ltd [1982] QB 84 ANZ Bank Ltd v Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi [1967] 1 AC 86 Barroora Pty Ltd v Provincial Insurance Ltd (1992) 26 NSWLR 170 Best v BWIA West Indies Airways Limited 581 F Supp 2d 359 (2008) Commonwealth of Australia v Verwayen [1990] HCA 39; 170 CLR 394 Coulls v Bagot's Executor and Trustee Co Ltd [1967] HCA 3; 119 CLR 460 Craine v The Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance Co Ltd [1920] HCA 64; 28 CLR 305 Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 407 Formosa v Secretary, Department of Social Security [1988] FCA 291; 46 FCR 117 Freeman v Cooke (1848) 2 Ex 654; 154 ER 652 Gulf Air Company GSC v Fattouh [2008] NSWCA 225; 251 ALR 183 CASES CITED: In re West Caribbean Airways SA 619 F Supp 2d 12 (2007) London Joint Stock Bank v Macmillan [1918] AC 777 Macrobertson Miller Airline Services v Commissioner of State Taxation (WA) [1975] HCA 55; 133 CLR 125 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Polat [1995] FCA 1204; 57 FCR 98 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; 218 CLR 451 Protean (Holdings) Ltd v American Home Assurance Co (1985) 4 ANZ Insurance Cases 60-683 Sarat Chunder Dey v Gopal Chunder Laha (1892) LR 19 Ind App 203 Taylor v Johnson [1983] HCA 5; 151 CLR 422 The Henrik Sif [1982] 1 Lloyds Rep 456 The Stolt Loyalty [1993] 2 Lloyds Rep 281 The Starsin [2003] UKHL 12; [2004] 1 AC 715 The Starsin [2001] 1 Lloyds Rep 437 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher [1988] HCA 7; 164 CLR 387 Wang v The Minister for Immigration [1997] FCA 70; 71 FCR 386