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Notes to Editors

  • Chapman Freeborn is the largest air charter broker in the world with 36 offices in 20 countries
  • In June 2007, we were voted"Air Cargo Charter Broker of The Year" at the ACW World Air Cargo Awards in Munich
  • Chapman Freeborn was established in 1973
  • Annual group turnover is over $450m
  • The Chapman Freeborn group employs nearly 300 personnel
  • We specialise in moving urgent cargo, heavy and outsize pieces, high value commodities, dangerous goods and AOG parts
  • Many of the world’s major relief organisations, governments, NGOs and other aid providers use our expertise in transporting relief goods and organising personnel evacuations
  • We provide ACMI, wet, damp and dry leasing solutions for many of the world’s largest airlines
  • We also provide General Sales Agency (GSA), Station Management and Ground Handling Services
  • Our operations division, Paragon Global Flight Support provides 24 hour outsourced flight support
  • Chapman Freeborn is listed in the Sunday Times’ Top Track 250 of the biggest mid-market private companies in the UK

For further information on this story, or about the Chapman Freeborn Group, please contact Julie Black or Andy James on +44 (0)1293 572832

Chapman Freeborn & Etihad Crystal Cargo Operate"Jumbo" Flight

19th February 2007

Chapman Freeborn Singapore recently transported a 5 year old elephant, named"Migara", and a 4 tonne stone Buddha statue on board an Etihad Crystal Cargo A300-600 freighter from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

The elephant and the statue were gifts from the Government of Sri Lanka to the Government of China for the Chinese New Year.

The male elephant with a weight of approx. 1000 kgs and a height of 169cm was transported in a specially designed cage. A veterinarian, two mahouts and a curator accompanied the flight.

Chapman Freeborn China's Becky Zhao inside the aircraft overseeing the elephant offload in Beijing

The special air transport service was meticulously prepared by Etihad’s charter team in Abu Dhabi and its General Sales and Services Agent in Sri Lanka, Speed Air Cargo Net (Pvt) Ltd.

Chapman Freeborn Airchartering’s team in both Singapore and Beijing, who arranged the charter, supervised the loading and offloading of the valuable freight.

 "Thanks to the teamwork of Chapman Freeborn Airchartering and Etihad Crystal Cargo throughout, this was a flawless operation from start to finish for this interesting cargo" said Mark Middleton, Director Chapman Freeborn Airchartering in Singapore.

The elephant and the statue departed Colombo at 02:50 and arrived safely in Bejing at 09:45 on 15 February 2007 (all times UTC).

The shipment is not so unusual for Chapman Freeborn who have transported all manner of precious and bizarre cargos from manatees, bears, valuable yachts, rally cars and many other such interesting items.

The elephant travelled in style!

About Etihad Airways

  • Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. Currently Etihad offers flights to 47 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
  • Etihad’s cargo division, Etihad Crystal Cargo, operates cargo services throughout Etihad’s network, and services its many all-cargo destinations and world-wide charters with a fleet of modern regional freighter aircraft.

For further details: Etihad Crystal Cargo Communications:

Tel: + 971 (0) 2509 1123  //  Email: cargonews@etihad.ae  or visit www.crystalcargo.ae

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