Pakistan blocks GoFirst flight: How it flouts freedom of air

What is the News?

India has launched a direct flight between Srinagar and Sharjah (UAE). The flight was to operate through Pakistani airspace. However, the flight was denied permission to enter Pakistan and the flight had to take a longer route to reach the destination. This has raised the concern of Pakistan violating the first freedom of the air.

What is Freedom of Air?

The freedom of air means a country grants airlines of a particular country the privilege to use and/or land in another country’s airspace.

Freedom of air rule emanates from the Chicago Convention.

What is the Chicago Convention?

The Convention on International Civil Aviation, which is more commonly known as the ‘Chicago Convention’ was drafted in 1944.

The ​​convention established the core principles permitting international transport by air. It also led to the creation of the specialized agency which has overseen the convention ever since – the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO).

The convention provides Nine freedoms of air, but only the first five freedoms have been officially recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

What are the First five Freedom of Air?

First Right, It is granted by one State to another State or States to fly across its territory without landing.

Second Right, One State can grant another State or States to land in its territory for non-traffic purposes.

Third Right, to put down, in the territory of the first State, traffic coming from the home State of the carrier.

Fourth Right, to take on, in the territory of the first State, traffic destined for the home State of the carrier.

Fifth Right, to put down and to take on, in the territory of the first State, traffic coming from or destined to a third State.

Source: This post is based on the article “Pakistan blocks GoFirst flight: How it flouts freedom of air” published in Indian Express on 9th November 2021.