The Freedoms of the Air

First Freedom

The freedom to overfly a foreign country (A) from a home country en-route to another (B) without landing.

First Freedom

This most basic right allows airlines from Country A to fly through Country B's airspace without landing.

First Freedom

Also called transit freedom

First Freedom

An American Airlines flight from the US to somewhere in South America would be permitted to fly through Mexico's airspace to get there.

Second Freedom

The freedom to stop in a foreign country for a technical/refueling purpose only.

Second Freedom

This also basic right allows airlines from Country A to land in Country B for purposes of refueling, maintenance, etc. as long it doesn't involve deplaning or enplaning of passengers.

Second Freedom

A flight from a home country can land in another country for purposes other than carrying passengers, such as refueling, maintenance or emergencies.

Second Freedom

A South African Airways flight from the US to South Africa could stop in the Cape Verde Islands to refuel but no passengers could get on or off.

Third Freedom

The freedom to carry traffic from a home country to another country for the purpose of commercial services.

Third Freedom

This allows airlines from Country A to bring passengers originating in Country A to Country B.

Third Freedom

A United Airlines flight from the US to Australia could bring passengers originating in the US down to Australia.

Fourth Freedom

The freedom to pick up traffic from another country to a home country for the purpose of commercial services.

Fourth Freedom

This allows airlines from Country A to bring passengers originating in Country B to Country A.

Fourth Freedom

A United Airlines flight from US could bring passengers originating in Australia back to the US.

Third and Fourth Freedom

These freedoms are the basis for direct commercial services, providing the rights to load and unload passengers, mail and freight in another country. They are commonly reciprocal agreements implying that the two involved countries will open commercial services to their respective carriers at the same time.

Fifth Freedom

The freedom to carry traffic between two foreign countries on a flight that either originated in or is destined for the carrier's home country. It enables airlines to carry passengers from a home country to another intermediate country, and then fly on to third-country with the right to pick passengers in the intermediate country.

Fifth Freedom

This allows airlines from Country A to bring passengers between Country B and Country C as long as the flight originates in Country A.

Fifth Freedom

Also referred to as "beyond right".

Intermediate Fifth Freedom Type

One of the two categories of the Fifth Freedom which is the right to carry passengers from the third country (C) to the second country (B).

Beyond Fifth Freedom Type

One of the two categories of the Fifth Freedom which is the right to carry passengers from a second country (B) to a third country (C).

Fifth Freedom

Air New Zealand, based in New Zealand, is allowed to fly passengers between Los Angeles (US) and London (UK) because the flight originates in Auckland (New Zealand).

First Five Freedoms

These freedoms are the only officially recognized as such by international treaty.

so-called

ICAO characterizes all "freedoms" beyond the Fifth as ___________ because only the first five "freedoms" have been officially recognized as such by international treaty.

Sixth Freedom

The "unofficial" freedom to carry traffic between two foreign countries via the carrier's home country by combining third and fourth freedoms. Not formally part of the original 1944 convention, it refers to the right to carry passengers between two countries through an airport in the home country.

Sixth Freedom

This allows airlines from Country A to carry passengers between Countries B and C via Country A.

Sixth Freedom

British Airways would be allowed to carry passengers between India and the US via its UK home.

Seventh Freedom

The freedom to base aircraft in a foreign country for use on international services, establishing a de facto foreign hub. Covers the right to operate passenger services between two countries outside the home country.

Seventh Freedom

This is similar to the Fifth Freedom, but it allows an airline from Country A to carry passengers between Countries B and C without having it be an extension of a flight from Country A.

Seventh Freedom

If Air New Zealand started flights between Vancouver and Rio de Janeiro with no ongoing service to New Zealand, that would use _____________ rights.

Eighth Freedom

The freedom to carry traffic between two domestic points in a foreign country on a flight that either originated in or is destined for the carrier's home country.

Eighth Freedom

This is called "consecutive cabotage," and it allows an airline from Country A to carry passengers between two points in Country B as long as the flight originates in Country A or a third Country C.

Eighth Freedom

Air Canada could fly between Chicago and Los Angeles, both in the US, if the flight started in Toronto or any other place outside of the United States

Ninth Freedom

The freedom to carry traffic between two domestic points in a foreign country.

Ninth Freedom

Also referred to as "stand alone cabotage" or "open-skies" privileges. It involves the right of a home country (A) to move passengers within another country (B) without restriction.

Ninth Freedom

For example, Lufthansa, an EU airline, would have a domestic route in the US flying between Los Angeles and New York and vice versa.