Singapore Airlines will launch a new fifth freedom route in Europe later this month after receiving regulatory approval to transport passengers between Barcelona and Milan Malpensa. The route will be the carrier’s first in Europe to have local traffic rights.

For the past few years, the airline has operated its Singapore Changi-Barcelona flights through Milan but has not been able to sell tickets between the two European cities.

The first Barcelona-Milan fifth freedom flight, on the other hand, will now be conducted on January 17. Singapore Airlines wants to operate the route three times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, according to the airline.

“Our customers will be able to enjoy our world-renowned onboard service even on short-haul flights to the popular Italian Italian city”, said Singapore Airlines’ MD for Spain and Portugal, “We are thrilled to be able to offer our customers one more option to fly to the popular Italian city.” Joan Lim revealed.

The route between Barcelona and Milan is now served nonstop by three airlines, with Ryanair and Vueling operating flights from Barcelona to both Milan Malpensa and Bergamo airports, respectively. EasyJet also provides service to Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate airports from the Spanish city.

OAG Schedules Analyser reports that Alitalia’s successor ITA Airways will also begin serving the destinations on March 27, initially offering six flights per week between Linate and Barcelona starting on March 27th.

Service between Barcelona and Milan Malpensa was launched six months after Singapore Airlines launched another fifth freedom route in Europe, this time connecting Copenhagen with Rome. There are now four flights each week between Copenhagen and Rome on this route.

Singapore Airlines also operates routes between Frankfurt and New York JFK, Manchester and Houston, and Tokyo Narita and Los Angeles, all of which are classified as fifth freedom routes.