Investments made by Avianca Cargo helped the airline improve processing times for the Valentine’s season as it handled 18,000 tons of flowers.
The airline said it had doubled its cargo capacity between Colombia and Ecuador and the US for the Valentine’s Day season to meet demand levels.
The carrier said that it had operated around 300 cargo flights carrying the 8,000 tons of flowers to hubs like Miami and Los Angeles.
This is in line with flight and flower volumes reported by Avianca last year.
The airline said that to support the market it had invested in infrastructure enhancements, digitalisation projects and a 30% increase in its US operations workforce.
Avianca said the investments had reduced flower processing and delivery times in Miami by 57% and helped it achieve the number one position in flower transportation to Los Angeles.
“In preparation for Valentine’s Day, we optimised our logistics to ensure a seamless season for our customers,” said Diogo Elias, senior vice president of Avianca Cargo.
“Our record-breaking efficiency gains included over 40% reduction in flower processing and delivery times of around 50% underscoring our commitment to excellence. We are proud to support the flower industry with superior service, driven by our dedicated team and strong partnerships across the supply chain.”
Looking ahead, the carrier said it plans to add two more Airbus A330 P2F aircraft to its fleet this year.
While flower volumes were flat at Avianca, Miami International Airport reported a small increase.
“MIA is proud to be America’s largest gateway for fresh flowers, with more than 1,500 tons projected to arrive daily this year for Valentine’s Day, which would be a 3% increase over last year,” said Ralph Cutie, director and chief executive of Miami International Airport.
“Thanks to our strong partnership with airlines like Avianca Cargo and federal support from US Customs and Border Protection, millions of blooms will reach their destinations across the country in time for the holiday.”
