Ukraine International Airlines and ECOVIS Bondar & Bondar

Background

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is Ukraine’s leading airline established in 1992.

Issue

ECOVIS Bondar & Bondar has been acting as legal counsel to UIA and representing the company in various corporate and dispute resolution matters for many years.

Solution

We have recently successfully represented UIA in several significant disputes in Ukrainian courts.

In March 2015 we proved in court the position of UIA according to which the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine is not authorized to issue air route operating permits. Representing UIA, we challenged the legitimacy of the Resolution of the Ministry of Infrastructure No. 245 of 23.04.2013, approving the Order of issuance and cancellation of air route operating permits.

At the end of 2014 – beginning of 2015 we successfully represented UIA in several disputes with the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine with regard to the cancellation of UIA’s air route operating permits.

We also represented UIA in a long-lasting dispute with Swissport International, which commenced back in 2012. The dispute revolved around participatory interest in Interavia, one of the leading handling companies providing a comprehensive range of aircraft ground handling services and passenger services at international airports in Ukraine. At the end of November 2014 the Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine reasserted the decision recognizing UIA’s property rights over Interavia.

At the end of 2014 we also successfully represented UIA in two disputes brought to the courts by Boryspil International Airport. Ukrainian commercial courts fully dismissed the claim to UIA to collect over UAH 37 million of debt for non-contractual ground handling services, supposedly provided by the claimant. The courts also decided not to uphold the claim to oblige UIA to enter into an additional agreement to the ground handling services agreement with Boryspil Airport. The Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine confirmed the execution of the agreement in UIA version.