Bojo Run takes off with BA World Cargo (09/11/2006)

From 22.00 Central European Time (CET) today, the race begins to put Beaujolais Nouveau into the glasses of wine enthusiasts around the world. Leading 'the Bojo Run', BA World Cargo will ensure that nearly half a million bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau will complete the annual journey from Lyon, France with great speed and efficiency.

Since 1954, Beaujolais Nouveau has been subject to European regulations which only allow shipments to leave the European Union at 22.00 CET on the second Thursday of November. This gives just six days for the bottles to make their way from sleepy French villages to stores around the globe in time for drinking on Beaujolais Nouveau Day - the third Thursday of each November.

Leading the pack, BA World Cargo - which will transport 540 tonnes (447,000 bottles) of the world-famous wine - will be the first carrier to deliver Beaujolais to Newark, at 12.05 local time today and is the only carrier to provide the wine to Sydney and Bermuda, ensuring Sydneysiders and Bermudians don't miss out on this international delight.

In order to make the delivery - known as the 'Bojo Run' - possible, BA World Cargo has coordinated an airbridge between Lyon airport and London, ensuring its B747 freighters connect with the carrier's mainline flights out of London, guaranteeing speed and timely delivery. The carrier has also arranged a long-haul freighter flight to stop in Japan to ensure that the Japanese can also indulge in this year's Beaujolais supply.

Stephane Faure, sales manager, France, BA World Cargo, commented: "BA World Cargo has participated in the Bojo run for over 15 years now, during which time we have constantly demonstrated the flexibility and strength of our network to provide additional capacity to meet the requirements of this global one-off project in addition to our usual freighter schedule."