British Airways World Cargo celebrates Beaujolais Nouveau success (27/11/2001)

British Airways World Cargo today announced that during 6-11 November 2001, it transported almost 2000 tonnes - nearly two million bottles - of Beaujolais Nouveau to destinations worldwide, making it the largest single carrier to transport the wine. This is an increase of approximately 25% compared with the 1.5 million bottles carried in 2000.

Graeme Goudie, Regional Customer Services Manager Europe, British Airways World Cargo said: "The unique nature of the release of Beaujolais Nouveau requires efficient distribution to extremely tight schedules in order to meet the specified date world wide [*see note to editors]. British Airways World Cargo has built considerable expertise in the demanding logistical movement, enabling it to handle confidently more tonnage than any other airline."

To prepare the shipments, British Airways World Cargo took 5,000 square metres of space - half the capacity available - in a temporary storage facility erected at Lyon-St Exupery airport. In total, 697 ULD's (Unit Load Devices) were used to carry the shipments.

From Lyon-St Exupery airport, British Airways World Cargo operated a dedicated trucking service of 136 trucks to London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, for onward carriage to the wine's final destinations. The majority of wine was carried on line haul flights, but the carrier also operated four non-scheduled B747-400's freighter flights from London Stansted to Osaka, Japan. British Airways World Cargo was again this year, the first carrier into Japan with this year's wine, ensuring it of the prestigious Ichiban award.

Approximately 1,500 tonnes of Beaujolais Nouveau was shipped to North America, a 50 per cent increase from 2000, and most of the remaining 500 tonnes to Japan. Mark Gardiner, Vice President, Europe region said: "British Airways World Cargo has been associated with the movement of Beaujolais Nouveau for over a decade. Each year we've grown our tonnage and market share and I am thrilled that yet again this year, we are the number one carrier for the wine and have satisfied our customers worldwide with a perfect delivered as promised performance of 100 per cent."

If you would like jpeg photography or further information about British Airways World Cargo, please contact Laura Barnes at Golin/Harris International on 020 7898 3333, or email bawc@golinharris.com

Note to editors:
* 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 be distributed throughout the world in time for "Beaujolais Nouveau Day" on the third Thursday of each November.