Chapman Freeborn was delighted to coordinate the Team GB ice hockey team’s return journey between Birmingham Airport (BHX) and Riga Airport (RIX) so they could take part in the World Championship.
The flight comprised of 42 passengers, which included the team’s General Manager Andy Buxton.
Due to the nature of the sport, there was a lot of luggage to consider, including stick bags, skate sharpeners, glove dryers, physio beds and medical equipment. Chapman Freeborn Passenger Charter Broker, Pres Ivanova, organised a JOTA Aviation AvroRJ-95Y aircraft for the team, which accommodated the passengers plus several tons of baggage.
Pres organised for the team’s Kit Managers to be cleared to go airside prior to the flight, enabling them to supervise the loading of the fragile equipment.
When athletes travel it is very important to consider their dietary requirements, as every detail must prioritise their performance and health – even on a short flight. Pres ensured the airline accommodated every passengers’ individual dietary requirements, as well as guaranteeing that nothing contained poppy seeds, a team requirement as these can skew a drug test.
Both the outbound and inbound journeys went to schedule with all equipment arriving safely, and Andy Buxton, Team GB General Manager, thanked Chapman Freeborn for “pulling everything together” and for the “very good experience”.
Chapman Freeborn has specialists in sports team air charters based in offices across the globe. With decades of expertise in coordinating bespoke itineraries for all varieties of sporting events, they are not just experts in aviation, but also in the individual requirements of sports teams.
Find out more about our sports teams air charter here, and don’t hesitate to email pax@chapmanfreeborn.aero or call +44 (0) 1293 832 796 for advice or further information.
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