China's civil aviation industry is poised to reach a whole new level of openness.
The country has decided to introduce the Seventh Freedom of the Air on a trial basis in the Hainan Free Trade Port which is a new zone pushed forward within the southernmost tropical island province.
The move allows foreign carriers to operate flights between two other countries, without the need to touch down in the airline's home country.
For example, under the Seventh Freedom, the U.S. could operate flights directly from Haikou, the capital city of Hainan Province, to Tokyo, Japan, and Air France could transport passengers from Sanya, Hainan to Los Angeles, U.S.
The freedoms of the air are a set of commercial aviation rights, granting a country's airline privileges to enter and land in another state's airspace.
There are nine freedoms of the air used by the international community, and higher-numbered freedoms represent more valuable privileges.
China's aviation authority says on each route enjoying the Seventh Freedom in Hainan, the maximum number of passenger and cargo flights will be seven per week.
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