Fifty-Two Airline Pilots of Air Afrique v Air Afrique

Procedural record

1. 18 January 1985Côte d'Ivoire

   18 January 1985Côte d'Ivoire

   Judgment of the Abidjan Court of Appeal dated 18 January 1985

   Abidjan Court of Appeal

   Decision summary

   The Abidjan Court of Appeal judicially terminated the employment contracts between Air Afrique and the fifty-two airline pilots.

   Participants

   Fifty-two Air Afrique airline pilots

   Air Afrique

   Abidjan Court of Appeal

   1 year and 20 days later · 385 days

2. 7 February 1986France

   7 February 1986France

   Regional Court judgment dated 7 February 1986

   Regional Court

   Decision summary

   The Regional Court declared inopposable in France, between fifty-two Air Afrique airline pilots and Air Afrique, the 18 January 1985 judgment of the Abidjan Court of Appeal that had judicially terminated their employment contracts.

   Participants

   Fifty-two Air Afrique airline pilots

   Air Afrique

   Regional Court

   5 months and 2 days later · 152 days

3. 9 July 1986France

   9 July 1986France

   Judgment of the Paris Court of Appeal dated 9 July 1986

   Paris Court of Appeal

   Decision summary

   The Paris Court of Appeal annulled the Regional Court judgment that had declared the 18 January 1985 Abidjan Court of Appeal judgment inopposable in France between the Air Afrique pilots and Air Afrique.

   Participants

   Fifty-two Air Afrique airline pilots

   Air Afrique

   Paris Court of Appeal

   2 years, 3 months and 9 days later · 832 days

4. 18 October 1988France

   18 October 1988France

   Decision of the French Court of Cassation in the cases Z/86-17.593 and J/86-18.039

   French Court of Cassation

   Case no.

   Z/86-17.593 and J/86-18.039

   Decision summary

   The French Court of Cassation joined the appeals and dismissed them. It held that the interpretative agreement of 11 April 1986, published by Decree No. 86-709, excluded a principal action in France to contest the effect of the Abidjan judgment in contractual matters and applied to the pending proceedings.

   Participants

   Fifty-two Air Afrique airline pilots

   Air Afrique

   French Court of Cassation

   Authorities cited

   3

   • France–Côte d’Ivoire Agreement on Judicial Cooperation dated 24 April 1961
     treaty
   • Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters dated 11 April 1986
     treaty
   • French Decree No. 86-709 dated 14 April 1986 (Decree No. 86-709 dated 14 April 1986)
     legislation