2010 Hall of Fame Recipient

Chris Chapman
Founder and Chairman
Chapman Freeborn Airchartering Ltd. 

Chris Chapman, founder and chairman of Chapman Freeborn Air chartering is being inducted into The International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA) ‘Hall of Fame’ in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development and growth of the global air charter market. 

Jack Boisen, Chairman of TIACA’s Chairman’s Council, said: “Chris is extremely deserving of this recognition. Wherever you go in the world, the name Chapman Freeborn is synonymous with the air charter industry and is recognized for the quality and professionalism of its services. He has grown the business organically from the beginning and demonstrated a skill for business creation and innovation that justifiably earns him a place in TIACA’s Hall of Fame.”      

Born in 1942, Chris Chapman began his cargo career with freight forwarder, Thomas Meadows before entering the world of air charter in 1959 with Tradair, based at the UK’s Southend Airport. Three years later, he joined forces with Tradair founder, Eric Hanks in a new charter brokering business, H Clarkson Air & Shipping Services, which went on to become the worldwide charter broker, Clarkair.  

In 1973, he founded Chapman Freeborn Airmarketing with partner, Mike Freeborn. The company was originally established to market Alaska International Air's fleet of Hercules freighters. At its peak Alaska International Air operated five aircraft but with business faltering in the local oil and gas industry, new revenue streams were urgently required. Chapman Freeborn successfully utilized these aircraft for ad-hoc charters and longer term contracts in Africa and, later, across the globe.  

After Mike Freeborn stepped back from an active role in the company in 1978, Chris continued to drive the business forward, successfully branching out into new markets and expanding the company worldwide. Today, Chapman Freeborn has 32 offices in 22 countries across five continents.   It coordinated more than 5,000 cargo and passenger charter contracts last year, in addition to many ACMI, wet and dry aircraft lease arrangements ranging from Boeing 747, Airbus A300 and IL-76 freighters to Fokker 100s and Boeing 767 passenger airliners. 

Furthermore, the company's charter work has generated two subsidiaries; Air Dispatch International and Wings 24, providing outsourced airline representation and flight operation services respectively.  

Alongside day-to-day work for freight forwarders and logistics providers, regular aid movements are also managed for NGO clients and agencies including various agencies in the United Nations system, Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières, International Committee of the Red Cross and USAID.

In addition, Chris is responsible for Chapman Freeborn’s support of the Estelle Trust –a registered charity promoting wind pump projects in Zambia’s rural areas that have had a tremendous impact in the communities. The wind pump provides a means to clean water for irrigating farms and communal facilities such as schools, clinics and orphanages. In addition, a percentage of Chapman Freeborn annual profits go to worthwhile projects that will make a difference of great need.

Chris is recognized as a man of vision, persistence and generosity which are only a few of the qualities that distinguish him as a leader. For him to be inducted into the TIACA Hall of Fame is a fitting reward to a gentleman who has spent 51 years devoted to this industry.