论国际航空货物运输承运人责任期间

The Responsibility Period of the Carrier in International Carriage of Goods by Air

国际航空货物运输承运人责任期间关系到承运人责任的确立,是处理空运纠纷的关键所在。理论上讲,它是承运人承担责任的时间期限,也是主给付义务期间,其实际法律意义是适用航空法责任制度的期间。为保护幼稚的航空运输业,1929年《华沙公约》实行双要素标准,1999年《蒙特利尔公约》创立的单要素标准延长了承运人责任期间,加大了承运人责任。我国《民用航空法》的双要素标准已不适应实践的要求,作者建议实行"法律上掌管期间"标准。

The period of carrier＇s responsibility in international carriage of goods by air, concerning with the establishment of the carrier＇ s liability, is a key point to settle the disputes arising out of or pertaining to the carriage. In logic, for the carrier, it does not only indicate the period to assume the liability for breach of a contractual obligation, but also refers to the major obligation time. In law, it actually indicates the period where the liability rules of air law apply. To protect the cradle-staged air industry, the 1929 Warsaw Convention adopted a double-element standard, which was replaced by a single-element standard established by the 1999 Montreal Convention for the purpose of extension of the period, thus increasing the carrier＇s responsibility. Since the double-element standard set by the Civil Aviation Act of the PRC cannot meet the practical demand, this author suggests that a standard ＂regulated by law＂ be adopted.