From sand dunes to planes: Falcons soar

• Chapman Freeborn and other private aviation specialists prepare for the falconry season by flying prized live falcons across the Middle East and beyond, offering tailored services to royal families and high-net-worth individuals.
• Private aircraft offer safety, comfort and compliance advantages over commercial airlines, accommodating custom cages, covers and even live prey while maintaining strict temperature and welfare standards.
• Falconry flights are a growing global trade, especially in the Gulf region, reflecting the birds’ cultural importance, high investment value, and the broader impact of transporting specialized live animals on aviation logistics.

As falconry season approaches once again, charter specialists are gearing up for one of their most unusual and high-profile services: transporting live falcons on a private jet. One of the leading companies in this field is Chapman Freeborn, which has developed expertise in this highly specialized field.

Falconry season, which lasts from October to March, is a peak time for falconry movements, especially throughout the Middle East where the sport has enormous cultural stature. For Chapman Freeborn, this represents not just business as usual, but also an opportunity to engage with some of the most valuable “passengers” in the sky.

Chapman Freeborn’s role in falconry expeditions

“Falcons have exceptional cultural significance and value throughout the Middle East,” notes spokesman Chapman Freeborn. “Some of the prized birds are valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, making them among the most expensive live cargo destined for aviation.”

The company offers falcon rental services tailored to royal families and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). Depending on requirements, this could mean a small group of birds traveling alongside their trainers on a light aircraft, or dozens of falcons being carefully managed via a large private aircraft. Either way, the goal is the same: safe, compatible, and comfortable transportation.

Private jets offer an advantage here, as the major airlines tend not to cater to such complex movements of live animals. “As you can imagine, transporting falcons is not something airlines deal with very often,” the company explains. “Each charter includes rigorous compliance checks and coordination with relevant authorities to meet international standards.”

When it comes to perching, falcons have options that may surprise those outside the world of falconry. Birds may travel on designated platforms, in designated cages or even restricted to regular passenger seats covered with protective covers. Hoods, standard equipment in falconry, keep the birds calm in flight, while trainers and guides sit nearby to ensure they are well taken care of.

There are even considerations about their food. If live prey such as pigeons are transported with birds, the aircraft must maintain a specific temperature. This adds another layer of complexity but is part of the package reserved for experienced rental professionals.

Over the years, Chapman Freeborn has managed countless falcon flights, sometimes in a very short time. One week may involve one bird and its owner, and the next may call for 20 or more birds, trainers and equipment – ​​a logistical process that requires careful planning. The company prides itself on using falcon-friendly aircraft and mediating between customer preferences and operator safety requirements.

Why do hawks fly in particular?

But Chapman Freeborn is not the only operator plying this unusual trade. Flying falcons is a growing global business, with private aviation at its heart. Commercial airlines sometimes allow falcons in the cabin – Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have falcon travel policies – but the experience is limited, and the restrictions may be inappropriate for elite falconers. Private jets offer privacy, flexibility and a higher level of care, all of which attract royal families and wealthy enthusiasts.

This practice also makes economic sense for owners. Falcons are not just sporting animals; It could be a six or even seven figure investment. In 2023, reports from the International Falcon Breeders Auction in Saudi Arabia highlighted birds selling for more than £300,000 apiece. With values ​​like these, the cost of a private charter is seen as a justifiable guarantee.

The global spread of falconry trips

Although the Middle East is the center of modern falconry, this phenomenon is not limited to the region. Falconry itself is one of humanity’s oldest hunting traditions, with roots extending back more than 4,000 years. This heritage remains on the UNESCO list as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage, and is practiced in more than 90 countries.

In Europe, falconry has long been a pastime of the aristocracy, and although its use in hunting has waned, falconers are still active. The birds are flown onto rural farms, used for conservation work, and even used for pest control at airports, vineyards and stadiums. North America also has a thriving falconry community, with tens of thousands of licensed falconers across the United States.

However, transporting falcons by private plane is more straightforward in the Gulf region, where falconry is considered the sport of kings. HNWIs in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are the most frequent users of these services. In some cases, falcons have their own passports – issued by the UAE since 2002 – allowing them to travel more easily between countries. By 2020, more than 28,000 falcon passports had been issued.

Striking a balance between heritage and luxury

Critics sometimes raise eyebrows at the idea of ​​birds traveling on private jets, while most of the world debates the carbon footprint of aviation. However, proponents argue that falconry is a deep cultural tradition worthy of respect, and that the welfare of the birds is of paramount importance. From a neutral point of view, both points of view are correct. What is certain is that the practice is unlikely to disappear any time soon, given the combination of heritage, wealth and modern aviation solutions.

Interestingly, the logistics of air transport of falcons are also influencing the way airlines think about specialist transport of live animals more broadly. The lessons learned in handling falcons – from regulatory compliance to on-board care – can be transferred to the wider live animal transport sector.

Looking forward

For Chapman Freeborn and his peers, falconry season is more than just another busy period. It is an opportunity to showcase the ability to solve one of aviation’s toughest challenges: transporting priceless live animals across borders with safety, care and precision.

While most of us will never find ourselves on a plane towed by dozens of masked hawks, the existence of this place tells us something interesting about global aviation. It’s a reminder that private flying isn’t just about ferrying celebrities or business leaders from Point A to Point B — sometimes, the passengers with the most influence come with feathers.