Currently
there are generally considered to be nine freedoms of the air . Although
these operations are called "freedoms", they are not necessarily
available to an airline. Most nations of the world exchange first and
second freedoms through the International Air Services Transit Agreement.
The other freedoms, to the extent that they are available, are usually
exchanged between countries in bilateral or multilateral air services
agreements. The eighth and nineth freedoms (cabotage) have been exchanged
only in limited instances. (U.S. law currently prohibits cabotage operations.)
In addition, airlines are often required to have an operating license
to exercise the rights that are available.
First
Freedom
The right to fly across the territory of a foreign country. without
landing (e.g. United Airlines flies from the United States (A) over
Ireland (B) en route to Germany.)
Second
Freedom
The right to land in a foreign country for technical or non-traffic
purposes, such as for re-fueling or maintenance. (e.g. American Airlines
flies from the United States (A) and lands to refuel in Ireland (B)
enroute to Germany.)
Third
Freedom
The right to deplane traffic in a foreign country that was enplaned
in the home country of the carrier. (e.g. United Airlines carries passengers
from the United States (A) to France (B).)
Fourth
Freedom
The right to enplane traffic in the foreign country that is bound for
the home country of the carrier. (e.g. American Airlines carries passengers
from the United Kingdom (B) to the United States (A).)
Fifth
Freedom
The right to enplane traffic at one foreign point and deplane it
in another foreign point as part of continuous operation also serving
the airline's homeland (e.g. Northwest Airlines has "fifth
freedom" rights to carry traffic between Tokyo (B) and Hong Kong
(C), on services which stop at Tokyo (B) en route between Los Angeles
(A) and Hong Kong (C).
Sixth
Freedom
This term is applied to Fifth Freedom traffic carried from a point
of origin in one foreign country to a point of destination in another
foreign country via the home country of the airline. (e.g. KLM,
carries sixth-freedom traffic between New York (A) and Cairo (C), carrying
passengers traveling from New York (A) to Amsterdam (B) and on to Cairo
(C).)
Seventh
Freedom
This term is applied to an airline's operating turn around service and
carrying traffic between points in two foreign countries without
serving its home country (e.g., Lufthansa operates between New York
(A) and Mexico City (C) without serving Germany (B)).
Eighth
Freedom
This term is used to refer to "consecutive or fill-up" cabotage
in which an airline picks up traffic at one point in a foreign country
and deplanes it at another point in that same foreign country as
part of a service from the home country of the airline (e.g., Singapore
Airlines enplanes traffic at Wellington (A) and deplanes it in Aukland
(B) as part of its service between New Zealand and Singapore (C))..
Ninth
Freedom
This term is used to refer to "pure" cabotage in which an
airline of one country operates flights and carries traffic solely
between two points in a foreign country (e.g., Air France operates
flights between Berlin (A) and Frankfurt (B))