American Airlines Cargo expects flower volumes to bloom

American Airlines Cargo is expecting its flower volumes out of Europe to blossom for this year’s Valentine’s Day celebrations.

The US airline said out of Europe it expects to fly 50% more flowers than in 2022, totalling more than 417 tonnes.

The growth comes as passenger operations continue to be re-established following the Covid pandemic.

“Using its trucking network and widebody aircraft, the airline is transporting Dutch tulips and roses to the US and beyond by way of London Heathrow (LHR) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG),” the carrier said in a press release.

Emma Oliver, American Airlines Cargo sales director for EMEA & APAC, said: “It’s always exciting to see flowers move across our network this time of year.

“Our teams are passionate about the careful handling of these shipments, knowing we play an important role for our customers and ultimately the people around the world who will celebrate Valentine’s Day with flowers we carry.”

The carrier also transports flowers from Miami International that originate in Ecuador and Colombia, countries known for the export of roses and carnations.

More than 70% of the fresh flowers that American carries from Ecuador and Colombia are roses, and for Valentine’s Day, that number increases to 90%.

Lorena Sandoval, American Airlines cargo sales director – Florida, Caribbean and Latin America, added: “Flowers are a precious cargo. They need to arrive in perfect condition to delight our customers, and our dedicated teams recognise the importance of care, packaging, and handling to ensure they look as beautiful when they arrive at a destination as when they left the farm,”

The airline said that while there is a rush around Valentine’s day, it transports flowers year-round.

Spring months see significant volumes of tulips and daffodils out of Europe to the US and Asia, while the end-of-year Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays come with a high demand for poinsettias out of Mexico and Chile.