As Valentine’s Day approaches, airlines are gearing up for one of their busiest seasons, driven by the high demand for fresh flowers. Avianca Cargo, a key player in this sector, has been instrumental in transporting flowers from Latin America to the United States, particularly through its Miami International Airport gateway.
In 2024, Avianca Cargo transported nearly 18,000 tons of flowers from Colombia and Ecuador to the United States for Valentine’s Day. Diogo Elias, Senior VP of Avianca Cargo, noted that the season “once again positions us as the leading cargo airline transporting flowers from Colombia to North America.” The airline prepared months in advance by investing in infrastructure and expanding capacity at its Miami hub.
For 2025, Avianca Cargo announced a 20% increase in cargo capacity to Miami. This decision aligns with a 20% growth in Ecuador’s cargo transport over the past four years. Elias emphasized Ecuador’s importance as a market and expressed commitment to supporting flower producers during peak demand periods.
Avianca Cargo also plays a significant role during other occasions like Mother’s Day. In 2024, it transported more than 400 million flower stems to the US for Mother’s Day celebrations. The company expanded its fleet with new A330 freighters to maintain its strategic position in the flower industry.
Avianca Cargo is among the top three cargo airlines operating out of Miami International Airport. It carries a mix of perishable and non-perishable goods, including salmon from Chile and fruits from Brazil and Central America.
Other airlines also contribute significantly during Valentine’s Day. American Airlines transported over 1.2 million pounds of flowers globally ahead of Valentine’s Day in 2024. Indy Bolina from American Airlines Cargo highlighted their expertise in moving perishable shipments due to their extensive global network.
Lufthansa also participated by transporting around one million roses daily between Nairobi and Frankfurt on its Boeing 777 freighter leading up to Valentine’s Day. Anand Kulkarni from Lufthansa Cargo mentioned that “the African airfreight market is growing steadily,” allowing them flexibility during high-demand periods like Valentine’s Day.
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