Chapman Freeborn provides charters ahead of Pope's visit to Angola

April 1, 2009 - PRLog -- Chapman Freeborn Airchartering played a key role in the preparations for Pope Benedict XVI's official visit to Angola, which took place last week.

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 air charters from Yaounde (YAO) to Luanda for Italian journalists covering the Pope's tour.

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 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 air charters last year. In January 2009 the company opened its first office in Africa, located in Uganda.

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Chapman Freeborn is the world’s foremost air charter and aviation support company. Established in 1973, we are now in our fourth decade of providing air charter solutions for the movement of both passengers and cargo