Project work for air freight providers is keeping rates up and aircraft flying.

A “phenomenal” air cargo market in 2024 looks set to continue this year at global charter specialist Chapman Freeborn.

In an interview with AJOT, Gerhard Coetzee, Vice President of Cargo – IMEA, said there were “more than enough abundant verticals” sustaining volumes. “Africa, for example, is booming with mining and oil and gas movements,” he said, “whereas in the Middle East, you have everything from aerospace to defense, as well as oil and gas, of course. In India, we are seeing particularly strong manufacturing and live animal movements.”

His comments chime with Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, who recently said air cargo was “the standout performer in 2024, with airlines moving more air cargo than ever before.” Profits and demand were up, he said, boosted by ocean shipping disruption, combined with airspace restrictions which limited capacity on some key long-haul routes to Asia – all of which helped to keep yields at “exceptionally high levels.”

Looking to 2025, IATA anticipates “moderate” air cargo growth. “Economic fundamentals point to another good year for air cargo — with oil prices on a downward trajectory and trade continuing to grow. There is no doubt, however, that the air cargo industry will be challenged to adapt to unfolding geopolitical shifts, including the new Trump administration using tariffs as a policy tool,” the association said.

In response, Coetzee said: “I echo those comments. If we’re comparing 2024 to 2023, our movements have definitely increased. There was business for humanitarian, for manufacturing, for oil and gas – 2024 was a phenomenal year for us as a region.

“I would say that’s likely to continue, because we actually had a very good start to the year already, with some good flights performed. Some customers that were onboarded late last year are continuing with us, and there are some nice projects that we’re involved in.”

Exciting Year End

Coetzee’s team has just overseen an “exciting movement to close the year in our IMEA region,” chartering a Boeing 747 Freighter to transport a Trent 1000 aircraft engine from Africa to Singapore for an aerospace customer.

Chapman Freeborn said the charter, which facilitated engine maintenance in Singapore, allowed it to “showcase our expertise in supporting our customers by providing all ground equipment, cranes and lifting spreader sourcing.”

Coordination between the company’s global offices saw flight set-up, operational matters and ground support planned in Dubai, while the UK team were charged with sourcing the right aircraft capable of meeting the customer’s deadline.

Chapman Freeborn’s Africa team kept the show on the road at the departure airport, coordinating operations with all stakeholders and securing the approximately 29,000 lb or 13,000 kg engine inside the aircraft, whilst providing live, step-by-step updates to the customer.

Coetzee explained: “When aerospace parts go in for maintenance, they have an allocated slot time and, if you miss that slot, you can be waiting a long time for the next available slot. So that was one of the challenges, meeting the customer’s deadline in in Singapore.

“Finding an aircraft that could do it was another obvious challenge. Over and above that, we had to source a lifting sling. Due to the engine shape, you can’t just use a crane directly onto the engine, as the slings could crush the engine. So, you need the spreader bar on top.

“To find something like that in Africa is not the easiest thing but, thanks to communication between the parties, and the support of our handling agent, we managed to secure one. Just 11 days passed between the contract being agreed and the flight taking off.”

Arabian Expansion

In the cargo market, Chapman Freeborn specializes in the charter and lease of aircraft for a wide-ranging customer base, including freight forwarders, multinational corporations, governments, humanitarian agencies, and a host of industries around the globe.

It has recently opened an office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the company sees a “rapid transformation” in private and business aviation. Chapman Freeborn said the new office allows the company to “connect closely with global business travelers, entrepreneurs, and corporations, offering tailored solutions that align with the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030.”

Asked about the rise of the online freight platforms that are becoming increasingly popular in other logistics segments, Coetzee said the digital innovators are not yet making serious in-roads in the cargo aircraft charter market.

“I know there are a lot of platforms out there but, when it comes to our business, it’s a completely different ballgame. A platform would most probably sell one specific aircraft type and wouldn’t necessarily take in the competitiveness, the vulnerabilities, and all those other factors that go into a cargo aircraft charter.”

Looking ahead, Coetzee – a 10-year veteran of Chapman Freeborn who started his career at Lufthansa Cargo – said: “When you look at our region, there is so much growth happening.

“Take Saudi, which is very ambitious with its 2030 plan and provided the initiative for our strategic decision last year to open up our own office in Saudi. Then Africa, which is an ever-growing market when it comes to infrastructure and mining.

“There will always be opportunities.”

The Chapman Freeborn group was established in the UK in 1973 and has offices worldwide including India, Middle East, Africa, North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In addition to freight services, Chapman Freeborn offers specialist passenger services including private jet charters for executive travel and large aircraft for crew rotations and international group travel, as well as on board courier services.