Chapman Freeborn has been named Air Charter Broker of the Year at the 13th Payload Asia Awards, held on 19 October at the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore.

Latha Narayan, Chapman Freeborn’s President – APAC, accepted the award on behalf of the company. The award recognises Chapman Freeborn’s expertise in managing complex and time-critical cargo charter operations across Asia and beyond.

“Being named Air Charter Broker of the Year is a testament to the expertise and commitment of our teams around the world,” said Narayan. “The operations behind this recognition were very different, but each required close cooperation, fast decision-making and the ability to adapt when the original plan was no longer possible. I am proud to accept this award on behalf of my team in APAC and around the world, as well as our customers, carriers and operational partners who placed their trust in us.”

Chapman Freeborn was recognised for three complex cargo operations completed in 2026. One involved an emergency B747 freighter charter for approximately 100 tonnes of cargo stranded in Hong Kong, with the destination changed from Dubai World Central to Sharjah just one day before departure.

The other operations included transporting a 100-tonne industrial rotor from Stuttgart to Johor Bahru aboard an AN-124 and arranging two B757 freighter flights carrying humanitarian aid from Kuala Lumpur to Micronesia following Typhoon Sinlaku.

Each operation required close coordination across countries, carriers, airports and ground handling partners, as well as the ability to adapt quickly when operational circumstances changed.