8th freedom is the right to fly between two airports in the same country (i.e domestic) with continuing service to/from the airlines home country. In this example only US/Saudi airlines could benefit and it is likely that it would only be grated on a reciprocal basis. Since the Americans would never do this, it is not likely the Saudis would give domestic rights to US airlines without a quid pro quo.
The US-Saudi agreement could grant 5ths for US/Saudi airlines. For 5ths for other flags that would depend on both countries granting same in their ASAs with said nation.
For example - If the UAE negotiated 5ths from both the Saudis and the Americans they could operate DUB/AUH - JED - JFK (with traffic rights).
In principle ASAs address traffic rights only for the airlines of the two countries.
Last edited by ExXB; 1st Jun 2013 at 21:32.