Air cargo demand blooms ahead of Valentine's Day

Image: © LATAM Cargo

Each year, air cargo demand is boosted by flower volumes ahead of Valentine’s Day and 2026 is no different. Follow this page to discover how this year’s season has been handled by the air cargo market.

NAM’s additional flights boost flower volumes

Network Airline Management (NAM) this year transported 3,100 tons of freshly cut flowers from Nairobi to Liege, to meet demand for Valentine’s Day.

For the 2026 Valentine’s rush, the company operated 16 regular scheduled flights and 15 additional flights – its highest number to date.

“Each flight with our fleet of Boeing 747F aircraft was pushed to its maximum potential, carrying more than 100 tons of roses and carnations per trip,” the company said in a press release.

In total, the operation moved 3,100 tons of flowers across 1,300+ pallets, with an average weight of over 2.3 tons of flowers per pallet.

Upon arrival in Liege, the flowers are processed and then transferred via road networks to wholesalers and florists across Europe and the UK,.

Sam Lindsey, NAM’s commercial and operations director, said: “The increase from six to eight weekly scheduled flights last year boosted the foundations of our regular schedule, but operating an additional 15 flights specifically for this peak season is a testament to the hard work of our global teams.”

Image: © Network Airline Management

A flower focus at Liege Airport

Liege Airport handled 13,850 tonnes of flowers during the four-week Valentine’s campaign, supported by 45 additional charter flights on top of regular scheduled operations.

The airport said that preparation for Valentine’s Day starts well in advance and all stakeholders across the flower ecosystem, such as ground handlers, freight forwarders, trucking companies, airlines and public authorities, are brought together to anticipate volumes, staffing needs and regulatory changes.

The majority of flowers handled at the airport originate from Kenya, Ecuador, Colombia, Ethiopia, as well as key Latin American gateways such as Quito and Bogota.

“Fast airside-to-warehouse transfers and dedicated cold-chain infrastructure play a decisive role in protecting flower quality, with ULD-compatible cold rooms maintained at 2–8°C and contingency capacity available at all times,” Liege said in a press release.

“This focus on integrity is essential, as individual flower shipments can represent values of up to $1m.”

Image: © Liege Airport

LATAM Cargo leads the way

This Valentine’s season, the LATAM Group shipped more than 24,000 of flowers from Colombia and Ecuador to the US and Europe.

To meet the season’s high demand, the group deployed approximately 430 flights from Bogotá, Medellín, and Quito over the three-week period.

“Valentine’s Day is one of the most demanding seasons for the flower industry in the region, and leading this market for the fourth consecutive year directly reflects the trust our customers place in LATAM Cargo,” said Claudio Torres Faini, commercial director for South America at LATAM Cargo Group.

Of the total volume transported, approximately 12,000 tons originated in Ecuador, while more than 12,300 tons were shipped from Colombia.

During 2025, the company transported more than 245,000 tons of flowers from both countries.

Flower volumes on the up in Dubai

Ground handler dnata handled 227,530 kg of flowers in just five days at its dedicated facility at the Dubai Flower Centre (DFC), marking a “significant surge” in volumes ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Between 7–11 February 2026, dnata processed 274 shipments comprising more than 18,700 boxes of flowers, representing a “significant uplift” to a typical operating period. Operations peaked on 10 February, when the team handled 59,800 kg in a single day – more than double normal daily volumes.

The majority of inbound shipments originated from key flower-exporting markets including Columbia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Netherlands. While hydrangeas, chrysanthemums and orchids featured prominently among inbound varieties, red roses remained the dominant trend, accounting for the largest share of seasonal demand.

Guillaume Crozier, dnata’s Chief Cargo Officer, said: “Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest periods of the year for flower logistics.

“Our team works closely with airline partners, exporters, freight forwarders, shippers and consignees to ensure shipments move swiftly and efficiently through Dubai, maintaining the highest standards of care for perishables.”

Air cargo demand blooms ahead of Valentine’s Day