Revaluating aircraft leasing contracts in the pandemic era: navigating the challenges of invoking force-majeure by applying hardship under international commercial Law

Resumen

La mayoría de las aeronaves se adquieren mediante contratos de leasing, y la carga financiera recae en el arrendador debido a su financiación de equipos pesados para el arrendatario en estos contratos. Por lo tanto, para garantizar que el arrendatario cumpla con el pago del arrendamiento al arrendador, se redacta en el contrato una cláusula “contra viento y marea”. Esto obliga al pago por parte del arrendatario independientemente de cualquier cambio circunstancial que les dificulte el pago. Sin embargo, debido a la pandemia, las compañías aéreas han sufrido una grave escasez de efectivo que les dificulta el cumplimiento de sus próximas obligaciones contractuales. Las compañías aéreas están debatiendo la posibilidad de invocar la fuerza mayor en estos contratos para excusar el incumplimiento y evitar daños y perjuicios; no obstante, teniendo en cuenta los desarrollos en Derecho Aéreo Internacional Privado y la naturaleza del contrato, será difícil tomar tales medidas. Este documento propone aplicar la onerosidad excesiva codificada en los Principios de Unidroit sobre Contratos Comerciales Internacionales para que las compañías aéreas puedan renegociar el contrato con los arrendadores en lugar de eludir completamente su obligación contractual. Esto proporcionará un respiro al arrendatario y también garantizará que su obligación hacia el arrendador
se mantenga durante la pandemia.

Palabras clave:

contrato de arrendamiento de aeronaves cláusula “contra viento y marea” fuerza mayor onerosidad excesiva incumplimiento renegociación

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