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Implications of the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right for Air Cargo Transport in China

Tao Li (Hebei University of Economics and Business, China)

The International Air Cargo Industry

ISBN: 978-1-83909-212-1, eISBN: 978-1-83909-211-4

Publication date: 26 September 2022

Abstract

Recently, China has taken steps to open up its international air transport services at a higher level during its 14th Five-Year Period. As one step, a number of pilot free trade zones (PFTZs) have been launched with different tasks for foreign economic cooperation based on institutional innovation. Some cities in these zones have been chosen to develop airport economy by liberalization of the fifth freedom traffic right (FFTR). Considering the different economic situations between passenger and cargo market following the outbreak of the coronavirus, this chapter focuses on its implication of the FFTR for air cargo and airport economy in these cities. Some air service agreements (ASAs) between China and other countries have contained the arrangements on the FFTR. However, this study argues that such arrangements are too general and need further negotiation and policy support for practical utilization. FFTR liberalization may drive cargo growth and economic development in the cities which have gained such policy support, but it may also bring competitive pressure on Chinese airlines. Furthermore, the FFTR liberalization policies do not guarantee an immediate positive result in fostering airport economy, and much work is needed for better utilization of the FFTR in China.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

I am grateful for the help of Man Liu in collecting materials for this article. Financial supports from Hebei University of Economics and Business (grant number 2021YB06) are gratefully acknowledged.

Citation

Li, T. (2022), "Implications of the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right for Air Cargo Transport in China", Nolan, J. and Peoples, J. (Ed.) The International Air Cargo Industry (Advances in Airline Economics, Vol. 9), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 263-281. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2212-160920220000009011

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022 Tao Li. Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited