THREE-FLIGHT ROTATION MOVES 121 HORSES IN A SINGLE 38-HOUR OPERATION

Chapman Freeborn Group has supported a specialist live animal charter operation moving 121 Mongolian horses between Ulaanbaatar and Hanoi, delivered through close collaboration between Chapman Freeborn’s Asia Pacific team and Intradco Global, its specialist live animal transport brand. The operation comprised three back-to-back Boeing 757 Freighter charter flights executed within a 38-hour window, moving 51 horses outbound on the first flight, 20 horses back on the return movement and a further 50 horses outbound on the final rotation — a coordinated sequence forming a single integrated bilateral operation.

The movement carried additional significance as part of a wider bilateral cultural and sporting initiative, with some of the horses returning after several years away and new horses travelling onwards as part of the rotation. The operation also reunited members of the animal care team who had been involved in the original movement, bringing direct continuity of specialist knowledge and personal familiarity with the animals to a highly sensitive project.

THE COMPLEXITY OF LIVE ANIMAL AIR CHARTER

Live animal movements occupy a distinct category within air charter operations. Unlike standard cargo, each movement must be planned around the welfare and physiological needs of the animals, with careful consideration given to aircraft suitability and configuration, loading arrangements, stall and container specifications, documentation across multiple jurisdictions, welfare monitoring protocols and the coordination of veterinary and care staff at origin, in transit and at destination. Horses in particular require stable, low-stress conditions throughout loading, flight and unloading — a requirement that demands both specialist equipment and experienced handlers who understand equine behaviour under the unusual conditions of air transport.

Latha Narayan, President APAC at Chapman Freeborn, said the operation was a strong example of what could be achieved when specialist teams worked closely together across the group. She said projects of this nature required more than aircraft capacity alone, relying on trust, detailed planning, specialist knowledge and continuous coordination to ensure every stage of the operation was handled with care. She noted that for the Asia Pacific team, the operation also reflected the importance of combining regional market understanding with global specialist capabilities, and that by working closely with Intradco Global, the group had been able to support a complex live animal movement with the care, agility and expertise required.

Charlie McMullen, CEO of Intradco Global, said horse movements were among the most sensitive live animal transport projects and that every detail mattered, from preparation to loading and arrival, with animal welfare and the smooth delivery of the operation always the priority. Intradco Global is Chapman Freeborn Group’s dedicated live animal logistics brand, and its involvement in the Mongolian horse operation brought specialist equine transport experience that complemented Chapman Freeborn’s broader charter coordination and Asia Pacific market coverage. Chapman Freeborn Group is part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI provider, operating across six continents with over 14,000 aviation professionals.