PROTOCOL TO AMEND THE CONVENTION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE BY AIR, SIGNED AT WARSAW ON 12 OCTOBER 1929, DONE AT THE HAGUE ON 28 SEPTEMBER 1955 (THE HAGUE PROTOCOL 1955)

THE GOVERNMENTS UNDERSIGNED

CONSIDERING that it is desirable to amend the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air signed at Warsaw on 12 October 1929,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

CHAPTER I

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONVENTION

Article I

In Article 1 of the Convention

(a)
paragraph 2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-
"2. For the purposes of this Convention, the expression
 international carriage means any carriage in which, according to
 the agreement between the parties, the place of departure and the
 place of destination, whether or not there be a break in the carriage
 or a transhipment, are situated either within the territories of two
 High Contracting Parties or within the territory of a single High
 Contracting Party if there is an agreed stopping place within the
 territory of another State, even if that State is not a High
 Contracting Party. Carriage between two points within the territory
 of a single High Contracting Party without an agreed stopping
 place within the territory of another State is not international
 carriage for the purposes of this Convention."
(b)
paragraph 3 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"3. Carriage to be performed by several successive air
 carriers is deemed, for the purposes of this Convention, to be one
 undivided carriage if it has been regarded by the parties as a single
 operation, whether it had been agreed upon under the form of a
 single contract or of a series of contracts, and it does not lose its
 international character merely because one contract or a series of
 contracts is to be performed entirely within the territory of the
 same State."

Article II

In Article 2 of the Convention paragraph 2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-"2. This Convention shall not apply to carriage of mail and postal packages."

Article III

In Article 3 of the Convention

(a) paragraph 1 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"1. In respect of the carriage of passengers a ticket shall
 be delivered containing:

(a)
an indication of the places of departure and destination;
(b)
if the places of departure and destination are within the territory of a single High Contracting Party, one or more agreed stopping places being within the territory of another State, an indication of at least one such stopping place;
(c)
a notice to the effect that, if the passenger's journey involves an ultimate destination or stop in a country other than the country of departure, the Warsaw Convention may be applicable and that the Convention governs and in most cases limits the liability of carriers for death or personal injury and in respect of loss of or damage to baggage."

(b) paragraph 2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"2. The passenger ticket shall constitute prima facie evidence of the conclusion and conditions of the contract of carriage. The absence, irregularity or loss of the passenger ticket does not affect the existence or the validity of the contract of carriage which shall, none the less, be subject to the rules of this Convention. Nevertheless, if, with the consent of the carrier, the passenger embarks without a passenger ticket having been delivered, or if the ticket does not include the notice required by paragraph 1 (c) of this Article, the carrier shall not be entitled to avail himself of the provisions of Article 22."

Article IV

In Article 4 of the Convention -

(a) paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"1. In respect of the carriage of registered baggage, a baggage check shall be delivered, which, unless combined with or incorporated in a passenger ticket which complies with the provisions of Article 3, paragraph 1, shall contain:

(a)
an indication of the places of departure and destination;
(b)
if the places of departure and destination are within the territory of a single High Contracting Party, one or more agreed stopping places being within the territory of another State, an indication of at least one such stopping place;
(c)
a notice to the effect that, if the carriage involves an ultimate destination or stop in a country other than the country of departure, the Warsaw Convention may be applicable and that the Convention governs and in most cases limits the liability of carriers in respect of loss of or damage to baggage."

(b) paragraph 4 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"2. The baggage check shall constitute prima facie evidence of the registration of the baggage and of the conditions of the contract of carriage. The absence, irregularity or loss of the baggage check does not affect the existence or the validity of the contract of carriage which shall, none the less, be subject to the rules of this Convention. Nevertheless, if the carrier takes charge of the baggage without a baggage check having been delivered or if the baggage check (unless combined with or incorporated in the passenger ticket which complies with the provisions of Article 3, paragraph 1 (c)) does not include the notice required by paragraph 1 (c) of this Article, he shall not be entitled to avail himself of the provisions of Article 22, paragraph 2."

Article V

In Article 6 of the Convention paragraph 3 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-"3. The carrier shall sign prior to the loading of the cargo on board the aircraft."

Article VI

Article 8 of the Convention shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-"The air waybill shall contain:

(a) an indication of the places of departure and destination;

(b)
if the places of departure and destination are within the territory of a single High Contracting Party, one or more agreed
 stopping places being within the territory of another State, an
 indication of at least one such stopping place;
(c)
a notice to the consignor to the effect that, if the carriage involves an ultimate destination or stop in a country other than the country of departure, the Warsaw Convention may be applicable and that the Convention governs and in most cases limits the liability of carriers in respect of loss of or damage to cargo."

Article VII

Article 9 of the Convention shall be deleted and replaced by the

following:-"If, with the consent of the carrier, cargo is loaded on board the aircraft without an air waybill having been made out, or if the air waybill does not include the notice required by Article 8, paragraph (c), the carrier shall not be entitled to avail himself of the provisions of Article 22, paragraph 2."

Article VIII

In Article 10 of the Convention paragraph 2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"2. The consignor shall indemnify the carrier against all damage suffered by him, or by any other person to whom the carrier is liable, by reason of the irregularity, incorrectness or incompleteness of the particulars and statements furnished by the consignor."

Article IX

To Article 15 of the Convention the following paragraph shall be added:-"3. Nothing in this Convention prevents the issue of a negotiable air waybill."

Article X

Paragraph 2 of Article 20 of the Convention shall be deleted.

Article XI

Article 22 of the Convention shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"Article 22

  1. In the carriage of persons the liability of the carrier for eachpassenger is limited to the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand francs. Where, in accordance with the law of the court seised of the case, damages may be awarded in the form of periodical payments, the equivalent capital value of the said payments shall not exceed two hundred and fifty thousand francs. Nevertheless, by special contract, the carrier and the passenger may agree to a higher limit of liability.
  2. (a) In the carriage of registered baggage and of cargo, theliability of the carrier is limited to a sum of two hundred and fifty francs per kilogramme, unless the passenger or consignor has made, at the time when the package was handed over to the carrier, a special declaration of interest in delivery at destination and has paid a supplementary sum if the case so requires. In that case the carrier will be liable to pay a sum not exceeding the declared sum, unless he proves that that sum is greater than the passenger's or consignor's actual interest in delivery at destination.

(b) In the case of loss, damage or delay of part ofregistered baggage or cargo, or of any object contained therein, the weight to be taken into consideration in determining the amount to which the carrier's liability is limited shall be only the total weight of the package or packages concerned. Nevertheless, when the loss, damage or delay of a part of the registered baggage or cargo, or of an object contained therein, affects the value of other packages covered by the same baggage check or the same air waybill, the total weight of such package or packages shall also be taken into consideration in determining the limit of liability.

  1. As regards objects of which the passenger takes charge himselfthe liability of the carrier is limited to five thousand francs per passenger.
    1. The limits prescribed in this article shall not prevent the courtfrom awarding, in accordance with its own law, in addition, the whole or part of the court costs and of the other expenses of the litigation incurred by the plaintiff. The foregoing provision shall not apply if the amount of the damages awarded, excluding court costs and other expenses of the litigation, does not exceed the sum which the carrier has offered in writing to the plaintiff within a period of six months from the date of the occurrence causing the damage, or before the commencement of the action, if that is
    2. later.
  2. The sums mentioned in francs in this Article shall be deemed torefer to a currency unit consisting of sixty-five and a half milligrammes of gold of millesimal fineness nine hundred. These sums may be converted into national currencies in round figures. Conversion of the sums into national currencies other than gold shall, in case of judicial proceedings, be made according to the gold value of such currencies at the date of the judgment."

Article XII

In Article 23 of the Convention, the existing provision shall be renumbered as paragraph 1 and another paragraph shall be added as follows:-

"2. Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to provisions governing loss or damage resulting from the inherent defect, quality or vice of the cargo carried."

Article XIII

In Article 25 of the Convention paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"The limits of liability specified in Article 22 shall not apply if it is proved that the damage resulted from an act or omission of the carrier, his servants or agents, done with intent to cause damage or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result; provided that, in the case of such act or omission of a servant or agent, it is also proved that he was acting within the scope of his employment."

Article XIV

After Article 25 of the Convention, the following article shall be inserted:-

"Article 25 A

  1. If an action is brought against a servant or agent of the carrierarising out of damage to which this Convention relates, such servant or agent, if he proves that he acted within the scope of his employment, shall be entitled to avail himself of the limits of liability which that carrier himself is entitled to invoke under Article 22.
  2. The aggregate of the amounts recoverable from the carrier, hisservants and agents, in that case, shall not exceed the said limits.
  3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article shall notapply if it is proved that the damage resulted from an act or omission of the servant or agent done with intent to cause damage or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result."

Article XV

In Article 26 of the Convention paragraph 2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"2. In the case of damage, the person entitled to delivery must complain to the carrier forthwith after the discovery of the damage, and, at the latest, within seven days from the date of receipt in the case of baggage and fourteen days from the date of receipt in the case of cargo. In the case of delay the complaint must be made at the latest within twenty-one days from the date on which the baggage or cargo have been placed at his disposal."

Article XVI

Article 34 of the Convention shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-

"The provisions of Articles 3 to 9 inclusive relating to documents of carriage shall not apply in the case of carriage performed in extraordinary circumstances outside the normal scope of an air carrier's business."

Article XVII

After Article 40 of the Convention, the following Article shall be inserted:-

"Article 40 A

  1. In Article 37, paragraph 2 and Article 40, paragraph 1, theexpression High Contracting Party shall mean State. In all other cases, the expression High Contracting Party shall mean a State whose ratification of or adherence to the Convention has become effective and whose denunciation thereof has not become effective.
  2. For the purposes of the Convention the word territory means notonly the metropolitan territory of a State but also all other territories for the foreign relations of which that State is responsible."

CHAPTER II

SCOPE OF APPLICATION OF THE
 CONVENTION AS AMENDED

Article XVIII

The Convention as amended by this Protocol shall apply to international carriage as defined in Article 1 of the Convention, provided that the places of departure and destination referred to in that Article are situated either in the territories of two parties to this Protocol or within the territory of a single party to this Protocol with an agreed stopping place within the territory of another State.

CHAPTER III

FINAL CLAUSES

Article XIX

As between the Parties to this Protocol, the Convention and the Protocol shall be read and interpreted together as one single instrument and shall be known as the Warsaw Convention as amended at The Hague, 1955.

Article XX

Until the date on which this Protocol comes into force in accordance with the provisions of Article XXII, paragraph 1, it shall remain open for signature on behalf of any State which up to that date has ratified or adhered to the Convention or which has participated in the Conference at which this Protocol was adopted.

Article XXI

  1. This Protocol shall be subject to ratification by the signatoryStates.
  2. Ratification of this Protocol by any State which is not a Party tothe Convention shall have the effect of adherence to the Convention as amended by this Protocol.
  3. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with theGovernment of the People's Republic of Poland.

Article XXII

1. As soon as thirty signatory States have deposited their instru-

ments of ratification of this Protocol, it shall come into force between them on the ninetieth day after the deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification. It shall come into force for each State ratifying thereafter on the ninetieth day after the deposit of its instrument of ratification.

2. As soon as this Protocol comes into force it shall be registeredwith the United Nations by the Government of the People's Republic of Poland.

Article XXIII

  1. This Protocol shall, after it has come into force, be open foradherence by any non-signatory State.
  2. Adherence to this Protocol by any State which is not a Party tothe Convention shall have the effect of adherence to the Convention as amended by this Protocol.
  3. Adherence shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument ofadherence with the Government of the People's Republic of Poland and shall take effect on the ninetieth day after the deposit.

Article XXIV

  1. Any Party to this Protocol may denounce the Protocol bynotification addressed to the Government of the People's Republic of Poland.
  2. Denunciation shall take effect six months after the date of receiptby the Government of the People's Republic of Poland of the notification of denunication.
  3. As between the Parties to this Protocol, denunciation by any ofthem of the Convention in accordance with Article 39 thereof shall not be construed in any way as a denunciation of the Convention as amended by this Protocol.

Article XXV

  1. This Protocol shall apply to all territories for the foreign relationsof which a State Party to this Protocol is responsible, with the exception of territories in respect of which a declaration has been made in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.
    1. Any State may, at the time of deposit of its instrument ofratification or adherence, declare that its acceptance of this Protocol does
    2. not apply to any one or more of the territories for the foreign relations of which such State is responsible.
  2. Any State may subsequently, by notification to the Governmentof the People's Republic of Poland, extend the application of this Protocol to any or all of the territories regarding which it has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article. The notification shall take effect on the ninetieth day after its receipt by that Government.
  3. Any State Party to this Protocol may denounce it, in accordancewith the provisions of Article XXIV, paragraph 1, separately for any or all of the territories for the foreign relations of which such State is responsible.

Article XXVI

No reservation may be made to this Protocol except that a State may at any time declare by a notification addressed to the Government of the People's Republic of Poland that the Convention as amended by this Protocol shall not apply to the carriage of persons, cargo and baggage for its military authorities on aircraft, registered in that State, the whole capacity of which has been reserved by or on behalf of such authorities.

Article XXVII

The Government of the People's Republic of Poland shall give immediate notice to the Governments of all States signatories to the Convention or this Protocol, all States Parties to the Convention or this Protocol, and all States Members of the International Civil Aviation Organization or of the United Nations and to the International Civil Aviation Organization:

(a) of any signature of this Protocol and the date thereof;

(b)
of the deposit of any instrument of ratification or adherence in respect of this Protocol and the date thereof;
(c)
of the date on which this Protocol comes into force in accordance with Article XXII, paragraph 1;
(d)
of the receipt of any notification of denunciation and the date thereof;
(e)
of the receipt of any declaration or notification made under Article XXV and the date thereof; and
(f)
of the receipt of any notification made under Article XXVI and the date thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, having been duly authorized, have signed this Protocol.

DONE at The Hague on the twenty-eighth day of the month of September of the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty-five, in three authentic texts in the English, French and Spanish languages. In the case of any inconsistency, the text in the French language, in which language the Convention was drawn up, shall prevail.

This Protocol shall be deposited with the Government of the People's Republic of Poland with which, in accordance with Article XX, it shall remain open for signature, and that Government shall send certified copies thereof to the Governments of all States signatories to the Convention or this Protocol, all States Parties to the Convention or this Protocol, and all States Members of the International Civil Aviation Organization or of the United Nations, and to the International Civil Aviation Organization.