Professor Brian F. Havel, academic director of the International Aviation Law Institute, addressed the Chicago Bar Association's Aviation Law Committee on the subject of “Passenger Rights: Where the Airlines Failed” on March 5. The event, which was simulcast live on the CBA’s website, was chaired by DePaul law alumnus and prominent private aviation law attorney Alex Herran (JD '91).
In his address, Professor Havel explained how the airline industry became complacent about the alleged exclusivity of the delay provisions in the Warsaw and Montreal liability conventions, and was surprised by the speed with which governments across the globe chose to adopt passenger rights legislation that now co-exists with the conventions. Professor Havel concluded that passenger rights are politically popular, and the industry needs to coordinate its response through organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA)