What is a 5th Freedom Flight?

Fly Singapore Airlines' A380 between Frankfurt and New York (Source)

5th Freedom Flights are an excellent way to experience different airlines and cabins on less common routes. Often, a 5th Freedom Flight is why airlines offer international business or first class on short-haul routes. For example, Singapore Airlines flies from Frankfurt to New York, and Emirates flies from Milan to New York. Similar examples can be found worldwide with various airlines. In this article, we explain the legal background of the "Freedoms of the Air."

What are the Freedoms of the Air?

To enable aircraft to fly between different countries, multilateral or bilateral air traffic agreements, known as the Freedoms of the Air, are required. The foundation of the nine Freedoms of the Air and other aviation laws is the Chicago Convention of 1944. The agreement established the principle that each country has full sovereignty over its airspace. Scheduled airline traffic can only fly into or over another country's airspace with special permission. Although unscheduled traffic can enter, cross, and even pick up or drop off passengers or cargo in foreign airspace according to the Chicago Convention, countries can impose conditions and regulations to limit this in practice.

Countries determine who can enter or fly through their airspace. Additionally, they may prohibit cabotage, the transport of passengers and cargo/mail within a country's territory by an airline from another country. For instance, a flight from Frankfurt to Berlin operated by easyJet is considered cabotage.

What is a 5th Freedom Flight?

Among the most exciting Freedom Flights for miles collectors are the 5th Freedom Flights. These are flights between two airports, neither of which is in the airline's home market, but which extend another flight that starts in the home market. For example, KLM flies from Amsterdam to Denpasar, Bali, via Singapore. The second leg is a 5th Freedom Flight. For KLM to operate this route (and sell tickets for it), it needs approval from the involved countries (Singapore and Indonesia).

Fly Ethiopian’s B787 between Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Narita (Source)

What makes 5th Freedom Flights so interesting?

5th Freedom Flights are fascinating for both the airline and the passenger. For airlines, it allows them to serve two destinations with one flight, potentially opening markets that would otherwise be too small, unprofitable, or too far away. The KLM flight from Amsterdam to Denpasar via Singapore is an example. Some passengers disembark in Singapore, and tickets for the Singapore-Denpasar segment are sold, ensuring the flight is fully booked. Another example is the British Airways flight from London to Sydney via Singapore. As a direct flight, it would not be feasible due to the distance, but stopping in Singapore and picking up passengers there makes the flight viable and profitable for BA.

For passengers, 5th Freedom Flights are appealing because they offer the opportunity to book international business class on short routes, typically dominated by low-cost carriers with basic cabins. Additionally, 5th Freedom tickets can be very cost-effective. For example, KLM’s business class from Singapore to Denpasar and back costs about $330, while Singapore Airlines charges roughly twice that. You can find more exciting examples of such flights in the following article.

What are the other Freedoms of the Air?

The 5th Freedom is perhaps the most exciting but not the only freedom of the air. The 1st Freedom allows overflight of another country's territory, which seems straightforward but is relevant in conflicts involving Russia or the Middle East. The 2nd Freedom permits airlines to land in another country for non-commercial purposes like refueling or repairs, without loading or unloading passengers, cargo, or mail. The 3rd Freedom grants airlines from Country A the right to transport passengers, cargo, or mail from Country A to Country B, and the 4th Freedom allows transport from Country B to Country A. Freedom 6 allows transport from Country B to Country C by an airline from Country A, with a stop in Country A. The 7th Freedom allows airlines from Country A to transport passengers, cargo, or mail from Country B to Country C without stopping in Country A. The 8th Freedom, or consecutive cabotage, allows airlines from Country A to transport passengers and cargo within Country B, with the flight starting or ending in Country A. Finally, pure cabotage allows airlines from Country A to operate flights entirely within Country B without starting or ending in Country A, like easyJet's domestic flights within Germany.

Experience Emirates’ First Class on the A380 between Bangkok and Hongkong (Source)

Conclusion

5th Freedom Flights offer fascinating routes that might not be expected. Due to the unique circumstances, 5th Freedom tickets can be very affordable, both when purchased or booked with miles. As shown, countries largely control their airspace and decide who can participate in their market/competition. Some countries or markets are much more liberal than others.