Notes to Editors
- Chapman Freeborn is the largest air charter broker in the world with 32 offices in 22 countries
- Chapman Freeborn was established in 1973
- Annual group turnover is over $450m
- The Chapman Freeborn group now employs over 250 personnel
- The passenger department provide air charters to a client base which includes travel agents, tour operators, MICE travel organisers and governments
- The cargo department specialise in moving urgent air cargo, heavy and outsize pieces, high value commodities, dangerous goods and AOG parts
- The company was voted Air Cargo Charter Broker of the Year at the ACW World Air Cargo Awards in 2007 and 2008
- Many of the world’s major relief organisations, governments, NGOs and other aid providers use the company’s expertise in transporting relief goods and organising personnel evacuations
- Chapman Freeborn also provide ACMI, wet, damp and dry leasing solutions for many of the world’s largest airlines
- The Chapman Freeborn group also provide General Sales Agency (GSA), Station Management and Ground Handling Services
- The 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 provides charters ahead of Pope's visit to Angola
23rd March 2009
Chapman Freeborn Airchartering played a key role in the preparation for Pope Benedict XVI's official visit to Angola, which started on Friday.
On behalf of a freight forwarder client, the charter firm's Spanish office coordinated the air transportation of vehicles for the Pope's motorcade and other necessary equipment from Vitoria (VIT) to Launda (LAD) ahead of the pontiff's arrival.
The delivery of the 50 ton payload of vehicles involved an AN-124 aircraft and represented the first of five air charters arranged for the events in Angola.
- Two additional B747-200F cargo charters were organised by Chapman Freeborn's UK and Portugal offices to move 130 tons of souvenirs and t-shirts from Lisbon (LIS) to Luanda; and,
- The company's VIP team also provided two passenger charters from Yaounde (YAO) to Luanda for Italian journalists covering the Pope's tour.
Photo: Vehicles loaded onto an AN-124 aircraft at Vitoria Airport (VIT)
The visit generated huge interest in the African country, where tens of thousands of Angolans were bussed and flown into Luanda hoping to catch a glimpse of the Catholic leader. An open air mass on Sunday attracted a million people.
Local police increased security on the city's main routes to counter any potential threats as the Pope's car, affectionately known as 'The Popemobile', passed the crowds. The last Papal visit to the country was in 1992.
Chapman Freeborn has 32 offices in 22 countries across five continents and coordinated more than 5,000 cargo and passenger charters last year. In January 2009 the company opened its first office in Africa, located in Kampala, Uganda.
Photos: AN-124 being loaded at Vitoria. The operation was overseen by Sergio
Nunez Cacho from Chapman Freeborn's Barcelona office.
For full details of Chapman Freeborn's global offices please visit: www.chapman-freeborn.com
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