Chapman Freeborn moves 90 tonnes of oilfield cargo from China to Saudi
The shipment included industrial pumps, spare parts, and oversized units measuring up to 8 metres in length and was moved using a Boeing 747 freighter.
Chapman Freeborn, part of Avia Solutions Group, has completed a time-critical cargo charter transporting oilfield equipment from China to Saudi Arabia. The operation was carried out for a client in the oil and gas sector facing pressure to replenish operational stock amid global shipping delays and airfreight backlogs.
The shipment included industrial pumps, spare parts, and oversized units measuring up to 8 metres in length. A total of 90 tonnes of cargo was moved using a Boeing 747 freighter, selected for its main-deck capacity to handle heavy and outsized cargo.
The operation involved a change in departure planning due to fuelling constraints at the original airport. The cargo was moved inland to an alternative location, with Chapman Freeborn’s team in China arranging overnight trucking and managing the freight forwarding process to maintain schedule continuity.
Operational challenges continued through the airlift phase, with limited aircraft availability, routing restrictions, and slot coordination at the destination adding pressure to timelines. Teams across locations coordinated to manage each stage of the movement and align the flight with the required schedule.
The cargo arrived as planned and was transferred for onwards transport, allowing the client to maintain operations without disruption.
“This was a highly time-sensitive operation with several moving parts across locations,” said Ronny Samaey, Cargo Charter Manager at Chapman Freeborn. “From arranging overnight trucking in China to managing routing constraints and final slot approvals in Saudi Arabia, the teams worked around the clock to keep everything on schedule.”
“Capacity remains tight in the current market, and projects like this require close coordination and flexibility at every stage,” added Gerhard Coetzee, Vice President Cargo – IMEA at Chapman Freeborn. “It’s a strong example of how our global network and local expertise come together to deliver when timelines are critical.”
The company said the project reflects its ability to manage time-sensitive cargo movements through coordination across regions and execution at local levels.