The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China has granted Singapore Cargo Airlines permission to exercise "the fifth freedom rights" between Singapore and Chicago via Xiamen in Fujian Province and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province. This is the first time that the Chinese mainland has granted the "fifth freedom rights" to a foreign air carrier.

The "fifth freedom rights", specified in the Chicago international aviation convention, refers to the privileges that a government grants international carriers to pick up passengers and cargo on its territory en route to other destinations.

The CAAC said there will be three weekly flights via Xiamen and Nanjing under the new rights scheme from Singapore to the United States. It can pick up cargo in Chinese mainland en route to its destination.

Figures from the CAAC show there are a total of 54 direct flights a week already between China and the United States. However, the development of the air cargo market between the two countries has been stifled by the shortage of flight rights.

The opening of China's "fifth freedom rights" will help China enhance its competitive advantage as a regional hub, the CAAC pointed out. Meanwhile, the "fifth freedom rights" have become more common as airlines seek to expand their network of destinations and become more global in scope.

(CCTV May 24, 2003)