Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd v Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc (New South Wales Court of Appeal [2026] NSWCA 105)

Procedural record

1. 15 December 2025Australia

   15 December 2025Australia

   Decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in the case Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd v Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc [2025] NSWSC 1500 dated 15 December 2025

   Supreme Court of New South Wales

   Case no.

   2023/308136

   Citation

   [2025] NSWSC 1500

   Decision summary

   The primary judge declined to stay Polar Air's contractual cross-claims in favour of arbitration, holding that Article 9 of the Main Agreement was not an arbitration agreement within the meaning of the International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth).

   Participants

   Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd

   Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc

   Supreme Court of New South Wales

   Judge

   Sweeney J

   5 months and 20 days later · 171 days

2. 4 June 2026Australia

   4 June 2026Australia

   Decision of the New South Wales Court of Appeal in the case Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd v Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc [2026] NSWCA 105 dated 4 June 2026

   New South Wales Court of Appeal

   Case no.

   2026/00013902

   Citation

   [2026] NSWCA 105

   Decision summary

   The Court granted leave to appeal but dismissed the appeal with costs. It held that Article 9 of the IATA Standard Group Handling Agreement required both parties to elect arbitration and agree on the arbitral process; it was not a binding arbitration agreement, and the contractual cross-claims were not entitled to a stay in favour of arbitration.

   Participants

   Application

   Application for leave to appeal — Leave granted

   Application

   Application to stay contractual cross-claims in favour of arbitration — Appeal dismissed with costs

   Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd

   Representative

   T Brennan SC (For: Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd)

   Representative

   H Cooper (For: Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd)

   Representative

   Norton White (For: Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd)

   Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc

   Representative

   J Hogan-Doran SC (For: Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc)

   Representative

   S Odgers (For: Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc)

   Representative

   HWL Ebsworth Lawyers (For: Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc)

   New South Wales Court of Appeal

   Judge

   Bell CJ

   Judge

   Kirk JA

   Judge

   McHugh JA

   Authorities cited

   31

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     statute
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