A study on the multilateralism in aircraft and air liners nationality and its implication with respect to the Article 7 of the Chicago Convention

항공기(航空機) 및 항공사(航空社)의 국적(國籍) 다원화(多元化)와 시카고 조약(條約) 제7조의 해석(解釋) 문제(問題)

In recent years, questions have arisen under several forms with respect to the need for adapting present legal order established under the Chicago Convention and relevant customary rules into newly developed environment surrounding the international air transport industry. Major feature of such trends included in opinions for modification of the present legal order might be defined as more liberalistic approach to this industry. In this respect, many scholars and lawyers in this field agree with a view that a theoretical tie between an aircraft/air liners and a register - State lies in political and strategical concern of the State so that each aircraft/air liners has been attributed a single nationality. In the context of such concern, each aircraft/air liners has been related with each register-State in the form of "genuine connection". However, present and near future development of air transport industry and its world - wide market requires some modification of such single nationality regime. Taking into account such circumstances, States as creator of present legal order are in the process of establishing new legal order where air liners with multi - nationality are capable of satisfying to such needs. As adopting a series of liberalization package for air transport industry in european continent, European Union adopts a concept of "community air carrier", by which an air space of each member State is open to each other, especially through the grant of cabotage right. A serious concern may arise in such grant because the Article 7 of the Chicago Convention prohibits such grant on an exclusive basis. While many theoretical opinions have been put forward concerning the interpretation of that article, a case of European Union shall be a good test of the range of its application. It is anticipated that future development around this issue shaH furnish us a major feature of the liberalization of international air transportation and an adaptation process of present legal order.