Goods carried by air

The French Insurance Air Cargo Policy covers physical loss of or damage to goods during air transport, as well as during incidental road, rail or inland waterways transport. Like other cargo insurance, this is a type of property insurance that provides warehouse to warehouse cover.

Although it is an All Risks policy, the insured can negotiate insurance limited to specific risks, for example to cover loss of or damage to goods caused by major accidents, such as disasters that occur during transport. Cover is also available for the contractual air carriers' liability to cargo.

Under this policy, all goods carried by aircraft that are not operated by a regular line (chartered aircraft) must be disclosed to the insurer, always subject to the payment of an additional premium.

Under a provision that is specific to the standard air cargo insurance policy, cover terminates after a period of 15 days from the date on which the carrying aircraft arrives at the airport of destination has expired.

However, cover can be extended until the goods have been delivered to the consignee's warehouse, subject to a special agreement and an additional premium.

The provisions pertaining to insured values, the assured's duties, notification of damage and claims settlement arising from the loss of or damage to goods are similar to those contained in other French transport policies.

The insured value is also calculated on the same basis as that indicated for other French transport insurance policies.

Insurers provide a set of standard insurance contracts for use in connection with international trade:

• Open cover: This flexible contract provides automatic coverage of cargo against insured risks, provided that a declaration of shipment is made within specified time limits.
• Voyage policy
• « Tiers chargeurs » policy: This type of insurance policy can be taken out by various transport operators, such as shipping companies, carriers and forwarding agents, on behalf of industrialists or merchants to cover occasional shipments carried by air.

In the event of loss of or damage to goods, it is the consignee's duty to send due reservations in writing to the air carrier upon discovery of the loss or damage or, at the latest, within a period of 14 days from the date on which the goods are delivered.