Qatar Airways committed to nurturing next generation leaders in air and space law

On 22-23 March 2019, the inaugural Qatar Airways/McGill Air Law Moot Court Competition and the Qatar Airways/McGill Rising Scholars in Air and Space Law Conference were held in Montreal, Canada. The event was attended by a wide range of government officials and aviation and space industry professionals, as well as scholars and graduate students from more than 20 countries.

The 2019 Qatar Airways/McGill Air Law Moot Court Competition was based on a case before the International Court of Justice concerning drone interference with operations at an international airport. Parties had to make submissions and present arguments on whether a revocation of traffic rights is a justified measure in international aviation.

Participants presented their research on various leading-edge topics, including the legal and regulatory regime for autonomous flying taxis in urban centers. Prizes were awarded for the best overall presentation, the best air law presentation, the best space law presentation, and the most innovative research, as well as a special ‘spirit of the conference’ award.

The conference also highlighted the importance of the 2019 Doha Declaration – a manifesto that calls for a serious review of the existing aviation regulatory framework. The Declaration, which was announced at the conclusion of the CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit held in February in Doha, comes 75 years after the historic Chicago Convention, which established the International Civil Aviation Organisation as well as a set of global rules for airspace, air safety and air travel.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is extremely proud of our new strategic collaboration with the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University, which is renowned for developing aviation professionals that hold some of the highest positions in international organisations, governments, airlines, and law firms around the world.

“Participants in the Qatar Airways/McGill Air Law Moot Court Competition and the Qatar Airways/McGill Rising Scholars in Air and Space Law Conference demonstrated academic excellence, as well as a willingness to challenge the status quo and to rethink the law and existing aeropolitical and regulatory frameworks. I am confident that the future of our industry is in good hands.

“As aviation plays a vital role in uniting peoples, cultures and economies, we need to continue to nurture the brightest minds and leaders for a dynamic air and space sector that will face increasingly complex aeropolitical challenges. That is why Qatar Airways is committed to supporting the next generation of aviation industry leaders at McGill’s Institute of Air and Space Law.”

The Director of McGill University’s Institute of Air and Space Law, Dr. Brian F. Havel, said: “The McGill Institute of Air and Space Law is proud to enter this ground-breaking educational collaboration with Qatar Airways, one of the world’s leading air carriers. Our first priority as an Institute is the professional development of our highly accomplished students, and Qatar Airways’ support enables us to offer exciting new programmes that nurture and showcase our students as future leaders of the global civil aviation community.

“We also welcome this partnership because, like  Qatar Airways, the Institute embraces the liberalising principles of the 2019 Doha Declaration and continues to emphasise the need for governments and the aviation industry to craft a new global regulatory system for aviation that reflects the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

“I am personally gratified that, through this sponsorship, Qatar Airways has endorsed the academic excellence of the Institute’s research and programmes and of its graduate students and alumni, and we look forward to a fruitful strategic collaboration with Qatar Airways as we approach the Institute’s 70th anniversary in 2021.”