The 5 Coolest European Fifth Freedom Flights

There are a few routes out there where you can travel on an exotic airline, perhaps on a widebody service, on a relatively short route - where you’d normally encounter a small narrowbody.
In fact Europe is a hotspot for some very cool fifth freedom flights and so let’s take a look at some of the best for todays’ video!
Article: simpleflying.com/the-5-cooles...
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[@theaviator_7678]

Gulf Air uses the APEX Suites in the business class cabin, even though it’s 2-2-2 all seats has direct aisle access because the window seats are slightly staggered.

[@tejusputtaswamy6372]

I think the coolest fifth freedom in the world is SYD-CHC. Almost every flight between Australia and New Zealand are on B737s and A320s so to be able to fly on any widebody, let alone an Emirates A380, on this route is incredible.

[@nickroberts3658]

Im doing this on Sunday in First!

[@marcusmyge]

@@nickroberts3658 There are other fifth freedoms here. Like AKL-BNE on China Airlines.

[@donaldboi9368]

Gulf Air business class on the 787 is direct aisle access albeit in a 2-2-2 config, they use the same product as JAL and Korean, Apex Suites.

[@moisesgonzalez8969]

There's also a 3 weekly flight between ATH and BER by Scoot on its SIN route.

[@rk6483]

Would rather die than fly with that airline

[@Monke-ch2ob]

Not in Europe but I flew once with KLM from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta. The plane flew from Amsterdam with a stop in Kuala Lumpur and then fly again to Jakarta. Really interesting because it’s my first time flying with a European Airline that has a regional flight in South East Asia because of the Fifth Freedom.

[@erik_griswold]

Remember that KLM has historic (colonial) connections to Jakarta.

[@carlosrivera3260]

Was it KLM or KLM Asia?

[@rk6483]

@@carlosrivera3260same thing, doesn't make a difference lol.

[@MrJimheeren]

@@erik_griswoldso what? Plus there is hardly a colonial connection between Kuala Lumpur and the Netherlands

[@erik_griswold]

@@MrJimheeren Correct but there’s enough traffic going from Holland to the former Batavia that KLM can justify operating this as a two stop service without risking flying empty planes from AMS to Malaysia. Probably avoids aircraft downtime at Jakarta.

[@77smp]

Brummies have just spat out their tea in outrage! 😄

[@edaespa]

there's also vienna - copenhagen with ethiopian airlines you can find round trip tickets for like 80 euros

[@thomasmoore9421]

A comprehensive list on 5th freedom flights would be interesting. I'd love to try the EK LCA to MLA especially in first class.

[@TheWolfHowling]

This isn't in Europe but there are two 5th Freedom flights I've been considering taken on a slightly crazy itinerary to Tokyo involving 2 overnight layovers. I'm CHC based & EK413 stops in SYD, where the next afternoon, QF1 takes off to SIN, both flights on A380s. The next morning JL712, a 767 which is a new type for me, for the final leg to Tokyo.

[@EdJonesVideos]

Is there something wrong with your microphone/audio codec/editing software? The audio (for instance at 3:09) is sounding a bit robotic

[@owenernst7768]

I took a Singapore airline flight from Milan to Barcelona. That was a very nice flight

[@owenernst7768]

I now see that you mention this one in the video! It was very pleasant and a very nice plane

[@johncassels3475]

In autumn 2023 I did the Ethiopian GVA-MAN service but not as a fifth freedom flight as I had boarded in Addis. Ethiopian are a fine airline but I suggest bringing some of your own food if travelling in economy as the quality is a bit variable.

[@Patrickair4444]

Wow so cool flights

[@clarencebenjaminlim]

Took the Sq flight from Barcelona to Milan ,on the way back to Singapore, in business. Was lovely

[@CaymanIslandsCatWalks]

Great info

[@sequoia7239]

Would like to share a very fun experience with ET715 OSL-ARN. I am a non-EU national living in Sweden and I went to Norway by train. When I took ET715 two years ago the Norwegian border control said they wouldn’t stamp me since I came to Norway without crossing Schengen border. Later when I landed at Arlanda the Swedish border control was totally confused that I didn’t have a Norwegian exit stamp. He got so confused that he had to call his supervisor and finally he let me go without stamping my passport either 😅

[@dontobillo]

why do they make you exit the schengen area in a flight bewteen OSL and ARN?? should't the exit be at ARN??

[@sequoia7239]

@@dontobillo it is explained in the video. So the departure from OSL is outside Schengen, and it stops at a non-Schengen gate at ARN as well. So the passengers from OSL to ADD don’t need to get off the plane at ARN 😊

[@dontobillo]

@@sequoia7239 but what to passengers who fly from OSL to ARN solely??

[@samomuransky4455]

​​@@dontobillo Those must go through passport control. But ID cards are accepted contrary to what video say (of course for EU/EFTA citizens only).

[@tommasodalmaso]

@@samomuransky4455 They are not. I needed my passport for that flight, despite boarding in ARN and getting off at OSL

[@matahariamarulhaq4332]

Here in southeast Asia KLM also operating some fifth freedom flights, from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta and Manila, and from Singapore to Bali. The Manila flight used to be routed through Taipei

[@jaysolis5870]

It still does..... Amsterdam-Taipei-Manila during Winter Season. Daily KLM807 Operated with B789. Amsterdam-Kuala-Lumpur-Manila during Summer Season.

[@matahariamarulhaq4332]

@@jaysolis5870 interesting, why different stops for the season though?

[@jaysolis5870]

@@matahariamarulhaq4332 KLM's AMS-TPE is to make it more competitive. China Airlines and Eva Air is flying the route as well. KLM is restoring the traditional route of Manila being served via Taipei. KLM used to serve Jakarta I think via Kuala Lumpur bit, now does it via SIN, using 77W. It seems KUL is becoming standalone 789, if not already, but stand to be corrected. KLM really had to ration its Asia network after Covid and then of course Russian airspace closure.

[@matahariamarulhaq4332]

@@jaysolis5870 the Jakarta route still routed through Kuala Lumpur though, during covid it used to be routed through Singapore and Bangkok. Singapore now used for Denpasar

[@jaysolis5870]

@@matahariamarulhaq4332 I stand corrected. :)

[@WorldWide_Dom]

Flown the Singapore flight from Milan to Barcelona. Will be flying the Ethiopian route soon. Fantastic expriences if you can do it.

[@user-pp8mi4rp7n]

I've taken the MXP JFK on Emirates a few times. Superb experience as always!

[@tommyze]

I flew the fifith flight but the other way around... Milan> BCN back in 2015 with the 777. Was totally by accident as I was supposed to fly BA from Singapore to Heathrow then Heathrown BCN- they overbooked though so I flew (almost direct) with singapore. The takeoff with an almost empty plane from malpensa was intense- we were up to cruising altitude in what felt like 5 minutes.

[@flyingwitharchi6261]

I flew on that EK flight from MLA to LCA and back and I have to say that I was really impressed by the service because it was amazing to compare with other European full service carriers

[@quiquemoyanomedina181]

I tried the BCN - MEX one from Emirates and it was simply awesome!

[@MEU2k]

Earlier PIA too was hopping in Europe before they got a ban on Europe landings.

[@MateoQuixote]

This is a topic that's always interested me, I'm not sure why bit it's so fascinating. My favorite fifth freedom flight of all time was the Ethiopian air flight from Dublin to Los Angeles. It felt so random and it's so intriguing. Not sure if it's still around

[@Abraham-uk4xy]

Very informative video. Are there such fifth freedom flights in Asia with well known European carriers or the big3 Middle Eastern carriers? If so please do another vidro on this. Thank you

[@renalove2537]

Not one of these routes, but I flew on an SQ flight from SFO to HKG with a stop in HNL

[@eamonahern7495]

That Singapore Airlines flight between Milan and Barcelona is reasonable. For context, I paid over €80 for a return ticket with priority boarding and a reserved seat on Ryanair KIR to DUB last year. $80-90 economy to go to another European country on a wide body with a full service carrier seems reasonable now.

[@mikrokupu]

A couple of 5th freedom experiences I had in Asia, years back: BKK-HKG Finnair MD-11 and BKK-SIN Swiss A340. Back then both were known for the low prices.

[@herr_mrsir]

Took the Ethiopian OSL-ARN and the Singapore BCN-MXP flights, both absolutely amazing flights and reaaally cheap, paid maybe around 50€ for the SQ flight. Getting to these fifth freedom flights airports however is unfortunately always quite expensive, otherwise I would do that more often.

[@sequoia7239]

Would like to share a very fun experience with ET715 OSL-ARN. I am a non-EU national living in Sweden and I went to Norway by train. When I took ET715 two years ago the Norwegian border control said when I exited the Norwegian border, that they wouldn’t stamp me since I came to Norway without crossing Schengen border. Later when I landed at Arlanda the Swedish border control was totally confused that I didn’t have a Norwegian exit stamp. He got so confused that he had to call his supervisor and finally he let me go without stamping my passport as well 😅

[@setoko3189]

I was just impressed by the visual effect at the beginning , the two aircrafts seem to be descending, while actually they didn't !

[@bigonicha3225]

There is also emirates Athens to New York which I actually had the chance to fly in 2022 forth and back which was lovely

[@user-jk2zm7uq5s]

If you go long haul I'll add Frankfurt-New-York in Singapore Air ;)

[@TheHannes16]

On the Ethiopian flight between ARN-OSL you can end up on a 787-8, 787-9 as well as a 777-200

[@sharmaneelkamal2640]

Druk air also operates a fifth freedom route to bankok from paro via kolkata

[@rowanmckeever7347]

Glad I watched this video as I missed the news that Manchester had overtaken like six other cities to become the second largest in the UK 😉

[@antonisantoraharjo7106]

I've flown on the FCO-CPH route with SQ cause I missed flying with them so much. Too bad it's now discontinued.

[@daanmaurice3719]

The MAD-AGP route is cool to, some middle eastern airlines that route in widebodies, on a 30 minute flight only

[@driver288]

I took this Ethiopian flight from Stockholm to Oslo for a business trip last year. First flight on a Dreamliner in fact. Good flight times for working with an early departure from Stockholm and a late return daily! Also nicely priced as it is less populated and more or less a ferry flight with some passengers. Not many know about it. But the catch isn’t just the passport but checkin closes way earlier for this out of Schengen flight. Because of that I missed my day after return flight and had to get another ticket for an SAS flight instead. That ticket was more expensive than the return trip with Ethiopian 😂, but the plane departed BEFORE the Ethiopian flight! So be aware of this if booking it.

[@jamiewalker6936]

outside of europe is the one from my home town. China airlines fly from Taipei to Brisbane then to Auckland and back again

[@houseclearance7509]

Back in the day I took many of these 5th freedoms. The memorable ones were CDG-LHR (Air India) LHR-JFK (Air India) CDG-MAN (Cathay) CDG-MAN (Aer Lingus) HKG-SIN (Canadian Airlines International (CP)) KUL-HKG (United) and AMS-LHR (Kenya Airways)

[@erobran2]

Had been onboard the Singapore Airlines CPH-FCO servicer under the Covid-19. There is also another 5th freedom. Ethiopean on VIE-CPH

[@marcusmyge]

I also took the Rome service back when it still operated, it was a very interesting experience. Very different from the experience I had on the SAS flight to Oslo I had to run through Fiumichino to catch.

[@samomuransky4455]

You CAN take the Ethiopian flight with an ID card. It's true that you must go through passport control as the flight operates "outside Schengen", which you wouldn't on other airlines on this route, but an ID card is a valid travel document for both SE and NO (provided it's issued in EU or EFTA) and there's no problem using it (verified with actual pax who took this flight :)). Some people seem to be confused and thinking that you need a passport whenever leaving Schengen but that's not true, ID cards are valid across EU/EFTA (e.g. also to Ireland, Cyprus and previously UK).

[@ncubesays]

Ethiopian Airlines deserves its own video taking a look at how it connects relatively smaller airports across Africa using this rule (I think so anyway). Routes that come to mind are Addis - Lusaka - Harare, Addis - Ndola - Bulawayo, Addis - Victoria Falls - Gaborone, Addis - Blantyre - Beira. I could go on but it's pretty cool how the airline is connecting the continent.

[@BanesPlanes]

Ethiopian sometimes flies a 777 on that route ARN-OSL

[@bokhans]

Sometimes? My friend it’s daily since years back. Cheapest way to travel to and from Oslo from Stockholm in style with a B777. ☺️ it’s an early bird 6.40 in the morning to Oslo. Plane spotters use it to go and spot planes in Oslo over the day. Back in Stockholm 20.05

[@BanesPlanes]

@@bokhans oh really. Thats great.

[@altavelmcnamara]

Vienna - Copenhagen is great too with 77/787

[@carlosrivera3260]

You can fly from Córdoba, Argentina, to Asunción, Paraguay on Spanish airline Air Europa.

[@TheSheiban]

I'm old enough to remember Emirates' MLA-LCA service on an A330...

[@jeremybarun]

It used to be on an A340 too. Seeing the 777 in Malta daily is a highlight considering that all other aircraft movements are A320/A321s and B737s.

[@R32R38]

Years ago both Aerolineas Argentinas and Royal Air Maroc had bookable flights between New York and Montreal.

[@dominikgarbauer6883]

You can also fly Zurich to Milan with Ethopian on theri flight to Addis Abeba.

[@pachimadripac]

In MXP we have Ethiopian A350 to ZRH too

[@rulewski33]

What about SQ26? Singapore-Frankfurt-New York

[@bryceyjy]

The video is talking about fifth freedom flights within Europe

[@hugochan2821]

How about Hong Kong to Bangkok by emirate A380,, Ethiopian 787 Taipei to Tokyo by Cathay Pacific A350 Are these also fifth freedom flight?

[@renalove2537]

They are indeed.

[@fallguyjames]

There is an emirates flight from Cebu, Philippines to Clark, Philippines by Emirates. It's the weirdest I think. And it's even using the 777.

[@adrianoalves92]

Few years ago I did MAD - FRA on LATAM's 787, Business was cheaper than Economy sometimes 😅

[@byFoxi]

We took ARN-OSL with ET and payed 37€. Unfortunelty it was the old 772LR on that day and not the 789

[@berthebear_real]

Why is it unfortunate

[@byFoxi]

I never had a Dreamliner flight yet, but multiple 777, so I thought I was getting my first 787 flight. Anyways in may there is the next chance. Again ET, this time VIE-ADD (and they also fly it every second day 777, so wish me luck:D)@@berthebear_real

[@byFoxi]

I never had a Dreamliner flight yet, but multiple 777, so I thought I was getting my first 787 flight. Anyways in may there is the next chance. Again ET, this time VIE-ADD (and they also fly it every second day 777, so wish me luck:D)

[@berthebear_real]

Had the same experience but with Norse. I was originally flying from OSL to LGW but Norse ended that route before my travel day. It would’ve been my first 787 but instead BA took my flight.

[@kelakuan]

I flew in KLM’s 747 from KUL to CGK. the plane originated in AMS.

[@dannykelly9951]

Ethiopian nrt to icn is another good one

[@scpatl4now]

When I went to Australia, I got on a Qantas flight in LAX. My friends started at JFK and flew the same plane to LAX. I'm pretty sure though that JFK passengers could not get off at LAX. Everyone on the plane from JFK was flying through to SYD

[@erik_griswold]

That’s not a 5th freedom route. QF can’t carry local passengers, only ones feeding their flights between LAX and Australia.

[@scpatl4now]

@@erik_griswoldI know, that's why I said all the JFK passengers flew on to SYD

[@tansirithanachai512]

I once took an old flight on emirates, sydney to bangkok

[@jaysolis5870]

SIA's fifth freedom route between Copenhagen and Rome will bow out after 11 months' service, with both cities getting dedicated non-stop flights again. Copenhagen - Rome axed from June 2022 Singapore Airlines is amending its operation to these cities from June 2022, and so the final service on this intra-Europe route will operate as follows: SQ352 Copenhagen to Rome: 31st May 2022 SQ351 Rome to Copenhagen: 1st June 2022

[@marekryba9345]

I flew from Copenhagen to Vienna on an Ethiopian flight with a B777. It was a pleasant flight.

[@erebos8260]

Sometimes Ethiopian use the B777-200 on the ARN-OSL flights instead, which I flew on in June last year. Cheaper than SAS or Norwegian (my ticket cost around 60-70$ then) and even came with a drink service.

[@carlosrivera3260]

Does EZE-SCL on KLM count as a fifth freedom flight?

[@renalove2537]

Sure does!

[@berthebear_real]

I live in Oslo so it would be easier for me to take OSL-ARN

[@boffisgd]

My mom has a colleague who has flown on the Ethiopian flight between Stockholm and Oslo with their Boeing 787 or 777 (Which also has been used on this route). He's not an aviation nerd but he thought it was a very luxurious plane compared to the Norwegian and SAS narrowbodies. ;D

[@_helmi]

Historically, Malaysia Airlines used to operate transatlantic service between Stockholm and Newark, originating from Kuala Lumpur. While KLM has been operating the route from Kuala Lumpur to Batavia, now Jakarta as far back in 1920’s.

[@marciomacana]

In South America there are also several flights like these ones.

[@niklasgermann]

In addition to that there is a Ethiopian 5th Freedom Flight between ZRH and MXP

[@Ice_Karma]

Weird audio issues -- sounds like the phase keeps flipping.

[@marlontharusha5171]

Prior to Russia Ukraine war, Singapore Airlines also had a service between Moscow DME and Stockholm

[@BrokenBoyx]

Ethiopian also flies a fifth freedom flight between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

[@hallvard74]

I have flown OSL to ARN. Three times and it is a fun experience. You can pretend you are on your way to safari in Africa.

[@SomeoneFromBeijing]

Flying from a city in the Schengen Zone to another city in the Schengen Zone and having to go through border control seems a bit inconvenient ...

[@felixw19]

Does the FRA to MAD flight with a LATAM 787 still exist?

[@marcusmyge]

Not sure, I couldn't find it last time I checked.

[@Luis-jf9xx]

Do they de-Board the whole plane during the stop? Otherwise you could snag a cheap deal on a flight flight LCA to DXB by just not getting out in Malta

[@MichaelGGarry]

In my experience they do not de-board the whole plane, but they can be very strict on checking who is getting off and who is staying on-board. That is travelling through both Switzerland and Sri Lanka.

[@1982neilr]

Gulf 787 does offer all aisle access

[@CaymanIslandsCatWalks]

BA252 between GCM and Nassau

[@ondrejkonopasek9363]

No matter how exciting might be the idea of flying from lets say Stockholm to Oslo on the 787, there are things you should take in consideration before you book such a flight: youll be getting on a board of plane that has been in the air for 8 hours already and since its coming from africa, not every passenger is used to western hygienic standards and theredore you might be taking a seat after somebody who was sitting over there for last 8 hours and crumbs will be the least thing to worry about... Just book norwegian, or idk Wizzair and treust me, it will be better ;)

[@marcusmyge]

I have only flown the other way, but I imagine there could be a difference.

[@hallvard74]

You are right. That is why it is best to fly OSL-ARN. Then you get a clean plane and more convenient timing in the early evening.

[@Elliasp-xx7mb]

TWO-two configuration in business class = good bye privacy

[@sequoia7239]

Also would like to mention some cool Chinese airlines flying in the Europe pre-pandemic, for example Sichuan airlines HEL-CPH, and Hainan airlines BEG-BUD, although for the latter one you need to cross Schengen border anyway. I would definitely try them if those routes are back

[@dontobillo]

why would you have to go through passport control bewteen ARN-OSL/OSL-ARN and BCN-MPX/MPX-BCN ?? those four flights are withing the schengen area

[@MichaelGGarry]

You have to use a passport to get on that flight, not because you are going between the schengen countries....

[@hallvard74]

Because the flight is going to Ethiopia and that is outide Schengen. All passengers are exiting Schengen in Oslo, regardless where they are going. It would be difficult to jus check some of the passengers.

[@dontobillo]

what happens with non-eu citizens??some of then might be required to be in possession of a visa for schengen area, thus if they make you exit the schengen area you will not be allowed a new entry@@hallvard74

[@paulglorieux5739]

There is also

[@MontanaSlime]

You can fly VIE -> CPH with ethiopian 787

[@Gary-vv5gt]

Haha, had a funny one with Qatar airways between Cambodia and sgn….. its was more funny than anything And its was surprisingly the cheapest out of all airlines doing that route

[@r21747]

You forgot MXP - FCO - Ethiopia

[@atilllathehun1212]

Singapore Airlines fly MAN-Houston

[@user-tl3xn2ie4h]

Another Route is Vienna to copenhagen with ethiopian

[@mk-hc3pj]

athens to ewr

[@wdielwlairajmd]

Manchester is not the UK's second largest city (it's Birmingham).

[@shipsandplanes123]

Well this isn’t exactly long haul😂😂

[@jamesbarlow7928]

The audio on this video is terrible, the narrator keeps sounding like he is in a fish tank

[@hepphepps8356]

Sounds completely standard to me. Nice tonal balance, even level, nice and dry with no resonant reverberation?

[@genesismediaeu]

SCOOT ATH-BER

[@mashtatoueful]

What's with the fucked up audio?

[@shayannj4409]

Scoot Athen to Berlin

[@charlesjay8818]

ALL seats on Gulf air 2-2-2 business class configuration have direct aisle access. You really should do your research better. School boy error. I mean you can even see from the footage or just check the website or seat guru

[@maxa1755]

You are going to need a passport to enter Norway anywhere you are coming from, landed there from Stockholm just a few weeks ago, and altough I am swedish I need to show my passport

[@hallvard74]

Not true. Norway is in the Schengen area which means no passport control. However there can be random checks though it is rare. If you are Swedish you can just show your drivers license in such a situation.

[@maxa1755]

@@hallvard74 Police was literally waiting for everyone coming out the plane at the gate and controlling everyone just months ago when i went there but ok

[@stephenmcpadden3770]

Dollars? Nobody uses dollars in Europe

[@CaymanIslandsCatWalks]

Gulf air don’t serve alcohol

[@rk6483]

Why do you all always make a big deal out of this? You alcoholics can't survive 2-4 hours without drinking alcohol?

[@sean_king]

Lol, this makes sia the best airline in europe and ethiopian the cheapest full-service

[@kinkymonkey5815]

Are the Emirates flights free? ... 😅

[@altavelmcnamara]

Yes

[@ahmedzarouni123]

EK SIN>MEL 🇦🇪🇸🇬🇦🇺

[@smcdonald9991]

Any chance for *passenger* freedoms? * Freedom not to be nickeled & dimed by the airlines * Freedom to have enough space to sit comfortably * Freedom to use a reasonably clean washroom * Freedom to arrive on time * Freedom not to sit on the tarmac for hours in an non-airconditioned plane

[@MichaelGGarry]

Fly a good airline and/or pay for Business or better?