Aviation

Our aviation experts advise on the complex, cross-border commercial issues that define this changing sector.

With over forty years’ experience, our aviation practice is consistently recognised by leading legal and industry directories for excellence. Our clients include aircraft and engine leasing companies, banks and financial institutions, funds and investors, export credit agencies, airlines, tour operators and manufacturers.

Advising on assets that include commercial aircraft, engines, spare parts, corporate jets, helicopters, eVTOL aircraft, drones and alternative assets (including slots and loyalty programmes), we provide a full-service aviation offering that takes good advantage of the firm’s global sector focus.

Notably, we are the principal advisors to the Aviation Working Group (“AWG”) whom we have advised on several key projects that have far-reaching and long-standing impacts on the industry. This includes the development of its ESG framework, the design and build of the award-winning AWG Carbon Calculator, providing ongoing support in relation to the CTC and reviewing specific concerns in relation to aviation insurance that involves global events.

Staying ahead of the curve, WFW is at the forefront of sustainability in aviation – an area that has and continues to have an immeasurable impact on the sector with long-lasting effects that will shape the future of the whole industry, including decarbonisation, the race to net zero and wider ESG requirements.

This expertise has seen us advise the AWG, Aircraft Leasing Ireland, IATA and other key industry bodies on their discussions with the European Commission on the EU Taxonomy for aviation, as well as advising the Aviation Climate-Aligned Finance Working Group on the development of the Pegasus Guidelines which have had a major impact on the financing of commercial aircraft.

Recent highlight matters we have advised on include:

	Landmark merger of Air India and Vistara We advised multiple parties on the historic merger of Tata SIA Airlines Limited with Air India, creating a unified full-service airline under the Air India brand. This follows the merger of Air India Group’s low-cost airlines Air India Express and AIX Connect earlier this year.
	Purchase order of 100 A321neo and 20 A330neo aircraft from Airbus for Avolon We supported Avolon on its recent agreements for the order of 100 A321neo and 20 A330neo aircraft from Airbus.
	Success before the Council of State for EasyJet, Ryanair, Volotea and AICALF We successfully represented AICALF and the airlines EasyJet, Ryanair and Volotea before the Council of State, obtaining the cancellation of the €2.50 municipal surcharge on boarding fees for those departing from Venice’s ‘Marco Polo’ airport.