Astronics Corporation, an aerospace technology supplier, announced on Monday that the UK Court of Appeal has issued a favorable judgment in its long-running patent infringement dispute with Lufthansa Technik. The appeal hearing took place in early July, with the court dismissing all of Lufthansa Technik's appeal requests while supporting one of Astronics' three appeals.
According to the UK Court of Appeal's judgment released on July 27, the upheld appeal means that Lufthansa Technik must partially refund compensation previously paid to Astronics, with the exact amount yet to be determined. Additionally, based on the court's decision, Astronics may also be entitled to reimbursement of legal fees related to certain aspects of the case.
The case involves a European patent held by Lufthansa Technik related to aircraft cabin seat power supply systems. Previously, in 2020, the UK High Court found that Astronics, Safran, and Panasonic, among other companies, had infringed the patent. A profit calculation judgment was issued in February 2025, with Astronics required to pay approximately $4.42 million. Lufthansa Technik subsequently appealed the calculation method, while Astronics filed a cross-appeal against part of the ruling.
The Court of Appeal's ruling rejected Lufthansa Technik's claim for increased compensation. Meanwhile, one of Astronics' appeals was upheld, potentially leading to a partial refund. However, both parties may still seek permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court, with acceptance remaining uncertain.
Astronics stated that it is satisfied with the comprehensive and detailed judgment from the Court of Appeal in this case and will continue to evaluate subsequent legal options. The company's fundamentals remain solid, with its previously released first-quarter financial report showing a 12% increase in sales and an upward revision of its full-year 2026 revenue guidance.
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