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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 coordinates Burma flights for aid agencies

27th May 2008

Chapman Freeborn’s global network has been heavily involved with the effort to get emergency aid supplies to the thousands of people left stranded in the wake of Cyclone Nargis in Burma.

The company is overseeing the movement of more than 1,500 tonnes of relief cargo for the affected region on behalf of international agencies including the United Nations, ICRC, and various other Red Cross agencies and NGOs.

The first American aid flights to the region were also among those arranged by Chapman Freeborn following protracted negotiations between the US Government and their Burmese counterparts.

On behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the company coordinated the movement of over 185 tonnes of cargo on B747-400F and MD-11 aircraft from the Middle East and Europe to Utapao, Thailand. The loads comprised of Zodiac boats, plastic sheeting, jerry cans, hygiene kits, water bladder distribution kits and water treatment units.

A further 90 tonnes of USAID cargo followed earlier this week on a B747-200F aircraft from Europe.

From Utapao the cargo is being broken down and flown into Burma by the US Military on Hercules C-130 aircraft.

For other agencies Chapman Freeborn has utilised AN-12, DC-8, A-300 and IL-76 aircraft for aid flights directly into Rangoon from Europe, the Middle East, and South East Asia.

There are still severe logistical difficulties in reaching remote locations but the relief already on its way will ease the suffering of many of those who were stranded as the Burmese government came to terms with the scale of the catastrophe.

Pierre Van Der Stichele from Chapman Freeborn said:

“As with any humanitarian crisis, it is vital for us to be able to move quickly and flexibly as we react to fast-changing situations.

“We are informed by the aid agencies that the emergency relief effort is likely to last months rather than weeks.”