On June 30, Europe saw the introduction of a new fifth freedom service between Istanbul Airport and Athens, operated by Sichuan Airlines. This marks an expansion for the airline, which is not commonly highlighted on the international stage.
Fifth freedom flights are segments of routes that begin and end in an airline's home country but allow for booking between intermediate stops. These services often involve widebody aircraft and lesser-known carriers, offering potentially affordable tickets.
Sichuan Airlines now connects Chengdu Tianfu to Athens, marking the first time Chengdu has direct flights to Greece. The service operates four times weekly using Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft. The final flight of this seasonal service will be on October 24.