Freedoms of the Air

The Freedoms of the Air are a set of commercial aviation rights established through the 1944 Chicago Convention and subsequent bilateral agreements. They define what airlines from one country may do in or through the airspace and airports of another country.

1st Freedom: Fly over a foreign country without landing
2nd Freedom: Land in a foreign country for technical stop (refueling) without picking up passengers
3rd Freedom: Carry passengers/cargo FROM home country TO foreign country
4th Freedom: Carry passengers/cargo FROM foreign country TO home country
5th Freedom: Carry passengers between two foreign countries on a route to/from home
6th Freedom: Carry passengers between two foreign countries via home country (hub)
7th Freedom: Operate between two foreign countries without routing through home
8th Freedom: Cabotage — domestic flights within a foreign country (very rare)
9th Freedom: Stand-alone cabotage — domestic service by a foreign airline (almost never granted)