The World Airline Road Race has its roots with the Joggeroos, a group of runners from Qantas Airways Running Club, who invited their interline friends ‘down under’ to the famous 1978 Sydney-to-Surf 6.2 mile race. Other informal gatherings in Texas, Finland, Spain, Portugal and Georgia served as a springboard for airline clubs to devise an annual airline road-race held in different locations around the world and to encourage the participation of as many airlines as possible.
The inaugural World Airline Road Race was held in San Francisco's Golden Park in September 1982, with 300 runners representing 30 airlines. The event was deemed a great success and ‘A good time was had by all’. Following this first race an International Committee was formed to oversee the smooth running and continual success since. Airlines are awarded the opportunity to organise and host this annual festival which results in different venues every year.
In 1985 the World Airline Road Race was held outside the USA for the first time with British Airways hosting the races in Hyde Park, London. The 2009 28th festival has been held in Hangzhou, China - the first time the event has been held on continental Asia.
The British Airways Athletics Club has been selected to host the 29th festival in 2010 and so the World Airline Road Race will pay a return visit to London, 25 years on from the previous visit.