Last spring a special set of circumstances led to an interesting experiment in the intercontinental transport of bees. There had been exceptional winter losses of bees in western Europe, up to half the population having died in some countries. In England (but in no other country as far as we know), these losses were partly made good by bringing in packages of bees from the area bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, 4500miles away. It probably represents the longest, largest haul of bees yet carried out. The operation was made possible by recent reductions in flight times and air freight charges, and—with the continuing development of air transport—it may perhaps provide a glimpse into the beekeeping of the future, with migratory beekeeping in some parts of the world an airborne operation.