Avianca Cargo has announced it has operated around 300 flights during this year’s Valentine’s Day season.

It represents a doubling of its regular flower shipment capacity, with close to 18,000 tonnes transported from Colombia and Ecuador to the US between January 16 and February 8.

To celebrate the achievement, Avianca Cargo decorated one of its airplanes with an exclusive flower design.

Diogo Elias, senior vice president of Avianca Cargo, said: “This Valentine’s Day season once again positions us as the leading cargo airline transporting flowers from Colombia to North America, doubling our capacity and strengthening the flower industry in the region.

“With the immense responsibility of fulfilling the customer’s promise, we executed a great season with service levels above 90%.”

Focusing on efficiency

Avianca Cargo prepares months in advance for Valentine’s Day, and this year it’s focus was on implementing logistical solutions to ensure an efficient season.

The cargo airline invested in infrastructure in Miami, the flower’s main destination, expanding and modernising the Jetfloor (the type of floor used), offering a new configuration in the cooler, thus increasing its capacity by 83% to serve up to six flights simultaneously.

Also in Miami, Avianca Cargo set a new record in flower processing and delivery times to its customers, reducing them by 57%, and increased its perishable cargo pallet breakdown capacity by 40%.

In Bogota, the cargo airline implemented extended receiving hours for 24/7 service on the receiving lines, increased personnel in the operation by 30%, and implemented a system with virtual scheduling that reduced cargo acceptance times by 56% compared to 2023.

Elias added: “This is an enormous effort by the Avianca Cargo team, inspired by the trust of our customers and with precise coordination with all the actors in the supply chain.

“Avianca Cargo has been there from the beginning and will continue to take our region’s flowers around the world for many years to come.”

Among the most exported flowers this season by the cargo airline were roses and carnations from Bogota, pompons, hydrangeas and chrysanthemums from Medellin, and roses, carnations and gypsophila from Quito.

Augusto Solano, president of the Asociación Colombiana de Exportadores de flores, Asocolflores, said: “Colombian flower exporters must respond during special dates with quality and timeliness to thousands of international customers.

“The efficiency of this export process is due to the relationships between producers, authorities, suppliers, transporters and traders.

“By optimising distribution times, among other aspects, our Petal Plan is recognised locally and internationally.

“In this sense, Avianca Cargo is and will be a very important ally for Colombian flowers to continue bringing joy to hearts in US homes.”

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