Introduction

• Author: John D. Holding, John S. Hoff
• Pages: 1-8

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Chapter 1: Introduction

A. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The law of international air carriage is now governed in the United

States of America by the terms of the Montreal Convention, and War-

saw Convention and Protocols it superseded which were known col-

lectively as the “Warsaw System.” The Montreal Convention and the

treaties in the Warsaw system are treaties adhered to by the United

States and are therefore the “supreme law of the land.” The treaties

apply to all “international air transportation” of persons, baggage, or

cargo performed for hire between the United States and countries

who are also parties to the treaties.

Application of the treaties may be affected by agreements between

international air carriers. The following is an overview of the histori-

cal development of the law.

1) Warsaw Convention 1929

This treaty, formally known as “Convention for the Unif‌ication of

Certain Rules Relating to International Transportation,” conveniently

shortened to “The Warsaw Convention” was signed in Warsaw on

October 12, 1929. The treaty entered into f ull force and effect in the