Out of Europe this year, American will fly 50% more flowers than in 2022, more than 417 tonnes, transporting Dutch tulips and roses to the US and beyond on flights from London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports.
Roses and carnations are strong exports from Ecuador and Colombia, travelling via Miami International Airport to US destinations or on American’s transatlantic network to European destinations.
Emma Oliver, Sales Director for EMEA & APAC at American Airlines Cargo, says, “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.”
Lorena Sandoval, Sales Director – Florida, Caribbean and Latin America, adds, “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.”
Valentine’s Day is the first holiday where demand for flowers increases with other holidays including the Emperor’s Birthday in Japan, Easter, Mother’s Day, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.