Liability For Changing Boarding Gate

Analysis

This article gives an overview of a recent lawsuit that was brought by a passenger (“Plaintiff”) in the UAE courts, against an Airway Company (“Defendant”) where the Plaintiff was denied boarding an aircraft by the Defendant's staff.

The judgment of the Court of First Instance was issued in favour of the Plaintiff but it was then reversed by the Appeal Court in November 2013. Al Tamimi & Company represented the Appellant in the successful appeal.

Background

The Plaintiff was scheduled to depart from Doha to Venice on the Defendant's aircraft. However, the Plaintiff arrived at the check-in counter late and with excess baggage. Once the Plaintiff had reduced his baggage, he was directed by the Defendant's staff to proceed to the check-in counter and Boarding Gate 7, as was stated on his boarding card.