Chapman Freeborn carried out in July 2025 the transport of welded pipes for industrial heat exchangers from Belgium to China. According to the company, the customer and the logistics provider decided, due to a tight timeframe, to opt for air transport instead of sea transport. The cargo consisted of 20-meter-long and 700-kilogram components, which were secured in a crate.
Loading in Liège
The cargo was loaded onto a Boeing 747-400F at Liège Airport. Because side
loading was not possible due to the dimensions, the process was carried out via the aircraft's nose cargo door. According to Chapman Freeborn, the actual loading took about one hour and was carried out two days after the truck delivery.
Use of specialized equipment
For unloading from the truck and assembling the cargo, the company used two cranes. When loading onto the aircraft, three high loaders were used, operated by six employees. Chapman Freeborn worked
closely with the Challenge Group, which handled ground handling at Liège Airport.
Destination changed at short notice
The originally planned destination airport Shanghai was replaced at short notice by Zhengzhou. According to the company, Chapman Freeborn was able to implement the change and assist the customer with export customs clearance. In addition, the company provided direct flight support and real-time updates.
“This project highlighted Chapman Freeborn's expertise in handling oversized airfreight shipments, as well as
the ability to coordinate complex operations smoothly, and the adaptability to last-minute changes,” summarizes Yoann Maugran.
Company background
Chapman Freeborn has been active in air cargo charter for more than 50 years. The company is part of Avia Solutions Group, which operates worldwide with a fleet of 209 aircraft and over 250 subsidiaries. The group employs around 14,000 employees and offers a range of services in the areas of maintenance, training, ground handling and aviation
