Air France v. Saks

Abstract

Air — Civil air transport — Liability of international air carriers for accidents to passengers — Whether absolute — Definition of “accident” — Whether describing cause, or event of injury to passenger — Warsaw Convention, 1929, Article 17

Treaties — Interpretation — Bilingual treaties — Interpretation of English version of treaty by reference to French version — Use of foreign language dictionaries — Recourse to travaux préparatoires — Comparison of treaty provision with other provisions of same treaty — Reference to other treaties — National court decisions of other treaty signatories — Subsequent conduct of the parties — Warsaw Convention, 1929, Article 17

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Treaties — Application and interpretation by national courts — Reference to decisions of national courts in other States — The law of the United States