United Kingdom: Aviation

Recent drone incidents at Leipzig/Halle Airport and in Lithuanian airspace have exposed critical vulnerabilities in European aviation security, raising complex questions about civil liability, State responsibility, and the adequacy of existing regulatory frameworks. As hostile UAS operations grow more sophisticated, airports and airlines must urgently reassess their contractual arrangements, insurance coverage, and operational resilience planning to address this evolving threat.

Transportation rates remain elevated across all major modes as capacity constraints persist in trucking and air freight, while ocean markets show early signs of stabilization following inventory front-loading activity. Despite some moderation from peak levels, rates across global shipping, air cargo, and North American trucking continue to run significantly above prior-year benchmarks due to ongoing network disruptions and structural capacity limitations.

The prospect of a third runway at Heathrow Airport has resurfaced, bringing uncertainty to communities across West London and the Thames Valley about homes, property values and future planning. This guide examines how the compensation framework operates for affected homeowners, identifies critical gaps in protection during the years between policy approval and construction, and explains why reform is needed to address the human and financial costs of prolonged infrastructure uncertainty.

Peter Morton (Partner, London) is joined in a discussion of the potential benefits of the mediation of aviation industry disputes and the key features of the Mediation Rules of the Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation (the HCAA)...

It has been widely reported that the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East has led to marine insurers cancelling war risks cover for vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz...

On 25 February 2026, the UK Government published its response to the Machinery Call for Evidence...

For the first time since taking effect under English Law, the High Court in Wealmoor Ltd v KLM [2025] EWHC 1706 (Comm) considered the test for an "event"...

Bristol Airport has appealed a decision to grant subsidy worth over £200m to Cardiff International Airport.

A cross-firm team has successfully completed the Defence Marine Services (DMS) programme for the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The programme, spanning over six years, involved competitive and single...