Article 134 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 134 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: مسؤولية الناقل الجوي
The air carrier's liability toward the passenger, shipper and consignee is contractual liability under the contract of carriage, governed by the international treaties the Kingdom has joined, the Law, other laws and applicable instructions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون مسؤولية الناقل الجوي في علاقته مع الراكب أو شاحن البضائع والمرسل إليه مسؤولية تعاقدية وفقا لعقد النقل الجوي المبرم مع كل منهما، وتخضع لأحكام المعاهدات الدولية المنضمة إليها المملكة، وأحكام هذا النظام، والأنظمة الأخرى، والتعليمات المطبقة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 134 explained in plain English
This article defines the legal nature of the relationship between the air carrier and those it deals with, and the sources of the rules that govern it.
The parties: the air carrier on one side, and the passenger, or the shipper of goods and the consignee, on the other.
Nature of the liability: contractual liability under the contract of air carriage concluded with each of them. A ticket or air waybill is a contract, and the consequences of breaching it are viewed within the framework of the contract.
Governing rules:
- the international treaties the Kingdom has joined;
- the provisions of this Law;
- other laws; and
- applicable instructions.
The article does not specify the amount or the cases of compensation; it refers to these sources.
Practical effect: A passenger harmed by the carrier, or a shipper whose goods are damaged, bases the claim on the contract of carriage and on the treaties and laws mentioned.
This article is linked to Article 133, which defines the air carrier as the contracting or actual carrier as the case may be, and defines the Montreal Convention. It is followed by Article 135, which applies the international treaties the Kingdom has joined to international and domestic air carriage. Anyone with a claim against an air carrier may consult a lawyer specializing in compensation and aviation cases.
Practical example
A merchant in Riyadh shipped goods by air to Dubai and they arrived damaged. The airline's liability toward him and toward the consignee is contractual liability under the contract of carriage, governed by the international treaties the Kingdom has joined and the applicable provisions of the Law, laws and instructions.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 134 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
What is the nature of an airline's liability toward a traveler?
Contractual liability, under the contract of air carriage concluded with the traveler.
What rules govern the air carrier's liability?
The international treaties the Kingdom has joined, the provisions of the Civil Aviation Law, other laws, and applicable instructions.
More articles on Liability of the Air Carrier
- Article 117
The facts covered by the investigation committee's final report on an aircraft accident are considered correct until the contrary is proved.
تعد الوقائع التي شملها التقرير النهائي الذي تضعه لجنة التحقيق في حادث الطائرة صحيحة حتى يتم إثبات عكسها.
- Article 133
For the purposes of the chapter on air carrier liability, "air carrier" means the contracting or actual carrier, and "Montreal Convention" means the 1999 convention unifying certain rules for international air carriage.
يُقصد بالعبارات والمصطلحات الآتية أينما وردت في هذا الفصل المعاني المبينة أمامها ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك : الناقل الجوي : الناقل المتعاقد أو الناقل الفعلي حس
- Article 135
International treaties the Kingdom has joined apply to international and domestic air carriage of persons, baggage and goods.
تطبق المعاهدات الدولية المنضمة إليها المملكة على النقل الجوي الدولي والداخلي للأشخاص والأمتعة والبضائع.
- Article 136
The air carrier is liable to passengers, shippers and consignees for jettisoning baggage and goods during flight, even if it was necessary to save the aircraft or passengers.
يكون الناقل الجوي مسؤولا تجاه الركاب والشاحنين والمرسل إليهم عن إلقاء الأمتعة والبضائع المشحونة أثناء الطيران حتى ولو كان لا بد من إلقائها لنجاة الطائرة أو الرك
- Article 137
The carrier is not liable if the aircraft commander is compelled to disembark or hand over a passenger who disturbs order or endangers safety, or if the passenger is disembarked on the instructions of the competent authorities.
لا يكون الناقل مسؤولا إذا اضطر قائد الطائرة إلى إنزال أو تسليم أي راكب يخل بالنظام على متن الطائرة أو يشكل خطرا على سلامة الطائرة أو الركاب أو تم إنزاله تنفيذا
- Article 138
Every air carrier in the Kingdom's territory must verify that passengers and goods hold the entry or exit documents required, including on domestic carriage where appropriate, and bears liability for any failure.
1- يجب على كل ناقل جوي في إقليم المملكة التحقق من استيفاء الركاب والبضائع للمستندات والوثائق اللازمة للدخول إلى المملكة أو الخروج منها إلى المطار المقصود. 2 - ت
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.