The London Circuit Commercial Court has handed down a judgment in Rostrum Leasing I DAC v MAE Aircraft Management WLL [2026] EWHC 57 (Comm), granting summary judgment for several million US dollars of outstanding rent together with indemnity costs against a Bahraini cargo operator under the lease of a Boeing 737-300PCF aircraft. 

The cargo operator sought unsuccessfully to defend the rent claim by alleging (among other things) that the aircraft was not "airworthy" and had not been properly "delivered" under the terms of the lease, giving rise to an interesting analysis of the operation of estoppel by convention, estoppel by contract and other doctrines. The dispute continues with remaining issues to proceed to trial.

Thomas Munby KC acted for the successful lessor, leading James Kane of XXIV Old Buildings, instructed by Bree Taylor and Reece Davison of Alius Law.

Read the full judgment: Rostrum Leasing 1 DAC v MAE Aircraft Management WLL [2026] EWHC 57 (Comm)