Beaver:
I don't need you to explain to me what fifth freedom right is and what cabotage right is. Political boundaries are defined by human beings. It is arbitrary. Traffic between EU national destinations as of now is still fifth freedom. But that can be changed anytime as EU attempts to negotiate air services agreements as a single entity. Before the two Germanies reunited, Lufthansa couldn't fly to West Berlin, but BA, Air France and Pan Am were the only airlines allowed to. Ocean shipping between different countries is not regulated the way air shipping is. If an airline were to be allowed to have a mini-hub in JFK to serve domestic routes to the same extent that NW is allowed to serve fifth freedom routes at their mini-hub in NRT, in terms of operational needs, it would be very similar. Cabotage or fifth-freedom, both involve short- to medium-haul routes that would be used to feed trans-oceanic flights.