GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 19, 2026

Montreal loss

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Last updated: 19 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.icao.int/secretariat/legal/Pages/Montreal-Convention.aspx

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Logistics Concept

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Definition & Explanation

When cargo fails to arrive at its destination – or arrives in a condition that leaves no residual economic value – the claim is assessed as a Montreal loss under the Montreal Convention 1999 (MC99). MC99 replaced the Warsaw system in most major aviation jurisdictions and provides a uniform liability regime for international air carriage. The air carrier's exposure is capped at a weight-based limit per kilogram; to benefit from a partial exoneration, the carrier must show that the loss was not caused by its own negligence or that of its servants. Shippers and consignees should act quickly: notice requirements are strict, and failure to meet them may bar recovery. Montreal loss is distinct from Montreal damage, where the goods retain some value despite being harmed.

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Montreal loss

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