March 26 - Urgent movements of oil rig equipment, a key contract in Papua New Guinea (PNG), a block bellyhold space agreement and a strategic US executive appointment are just the most recent activities that demonstrate the global nature of Chapman Freebo

The air charter broker's Singapore office has co-ordinated the urgent movement of eight pieces of oil rig equipment weighing a total of 18 tonnes from Perth, Australia to Bergen, Norway, to support an offshore project in the North Sea.

The operation began with a scheduled flight from Perth to Dubai, before the load was split for two connecting flights to Frankfurt where they were reconsolidated for the final leg of the operation to Bergen on a chartered Hercules aircraft (seen below).

Meanwhile, Chapman Freeborn Airchartering and Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea, have entered into a partnership arrangement to serve PNG and its energy projects.

The arrangement will provide Air Niugini with access to the international cargo charter market, allowing the airline to offer its clients freighter aircraft from third party operators managed by Chapman Freeborn.

Shippers and forwarders will be offered a one-stop shop for project cargo with main deck charters to Port Moresby Airport and onward connections to smaller airfields and unpaved strips across PNG. Clients will also be able to utilise Air Niugini's cargo capacity on its current scheduled passenger aircraft which offer the greatest frequency into the country. 

In Europe, Chapman Freeborn has entered an exclusive block space agreement with Safi Airways, the non-Afghanistan government owned airline. It is set to expand its service to five flights a week from Frankfurt, Germany to Kabul, Afghanistan using A340 aircraft.

Through the agreement with Chapman Freeborn, cargo customers can send kilo shipments on the only regular direct service from Europe to the Afghan capital. Demand is currently strong, with Chapman Freeborn setting a record of 30 tonnes on their first flight. Chapman Freeborn is currently finalising the administration to open its first office in Afghanistan, to be located in Kabul.

In the US, Chapman Freeborn Airchartering has appointed Gavin-jon Deeks as president of its US operation. Deeks will oversee the charterer's cargo and passenger teams and be headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with representatives across the US. 

Prior to joining Chapman Freeborn, Deeks held a commercial position at Antonov Design Bureau.

The company has started 2010 well, with revenues from January and February totalling USD8.9 million.

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