First Freedom of the Air Law and Legal Definition
First freedom of the air refers to the right of a country’s aircraft to fly over a foreign country, without landing there. It is the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one state to another state or states to fly across its territory without landing. The freedom is also known as a first freedom right or the transit freedom.
The first freedom of the air was the result of the Chicago convention. The convention was successful in drawing up a multilateral agreement in which the first two freedoms of the air was formed. The convention is also known as the International Air Services Transit Agreement, or Two Freedoms Agreement.