subject: Airlines' Freedom of the Sky [print this page] Airlines' Freedom of the Sky Airlines' Freedom of the Sky
In actual case, the term was intended to restrict the airlines to a set of standard agreement on flying rights. The term was coined in Chicago Convention 1944, amidst the concern of the majority of the signatory nations on the economic power of US airlines and the fear that these airline will dominate the other nations.
The term freedom of the sky or sometime called freedom of the air, details the rights and restriction of the airlines to fly into a foreign country. It would involve the right to overfly foreign countries, making technical stop for refueling or maintenance works and the commercial right to discharge or pickup cargo or passengers.
The summary of the terms are given below:
First freedom -The right to over fly a foreign country. The first freedom is almost automatic as it was agreed by all signatories to grant the parties to the agreement the right to over fly. However advance request has to be made and fee can be charged on the flying aircraft.
Second freedom involves the right to land in the foreign country for non-commercial reasons such as for fuelling and maintenance and repairs. This was necessary before the long haul aircraft were built. However the need is much reduced now due to the increase in the range capability of the modern aircrafts.
Third Freedom is the right to land in foreign country to discharge cargo and passengers from the home country. (Home country is the country of the origin of the airline). This right is normally being negotiated together with fourth which is right to pick up cargo and passengers.
Fourth Freedom is the right to pickup commercial cargo and passengers at the foreign country and transports them back to the home country.
Fifth Freedom is the right to fly into a foreign country to discharge and pick up passengers and cargo destined to another foreign country.
Sixth Freedom is almost the same as the fifth except the travel to the other foreign country is made via the home nation
There are the other two freedoms, the seventh and eight freedoms, which were formulated at a later dates and are not commonly used by the airlines.
The above freedoms or airlines rights are normally an item of discussion in the country's trade negotiation with another country. It is not a subject of discussions between airlines although the airlines are normally consulted in the discussions.
The author had spent more than 35 years working with an International Airlines, the last 10 years in fields of Training and Development. Responsible for Training Needs Analysis and subsequent training solutions, including e-learning implementation. Currently maintain a blog on airlines jobs at: http://pramugari.info/
