Questione giuridica chiave
Whether the challenged arbitrator had to be recused because of his public commentary on an earlier award in the same dispute
Decisione estratta
Yes. His published criticism of the earlier award was so unequivocal that, objectively, it created an appearance that he had already formed a final view on issues relevant to the new arbitration.
Motivazione estratta
A public legal opinion outside the proceedings does not automatically create bias, but it can do so when it goes beyond what is necessary and shows lack of distance. Here the arbitrator had sharply criticized the earlier award on issues again central to the third arbitration, especially equal treatment of the pilots, so the cantonal courts could find an appearance of bias without arbitrariness.