LATAM ends Valentine's season with exports of 25,000 tonnes flowers
In three weeks, LATAM's cargo subsidiaries conducted over 400 takeoffs from Bogotá, Medellín & Quito to US and Europe
(Photo Credit: LATAM Group)
The LATAM group, through its air cargo subsidiaries, concluded a "historic Valentine's season" by leading the flower transportation in the region with close to 25,000 tonnes exported in just 21 days from Colombia and Ecuador due to the festive occasion.
This marked a 36 percent increase compared to the same season in 2023, says an official release. "The total exported corresponds to 575 million flower stems, equivalent to one flower for every inhabitant of the United States, Colombia, Ecuador and France combined."
During Valentine's season, spanning from January 18 to February 7, the company's cargo subsidiaries conducted approximately 418 takeoffs from Quito, Bogotá and Medellín, doubling the regular frequencies from Colombia and Ecuador to deliver the local product to the United States and Europe, the release added.
"To face this demanding season, two additional freighters were incorporated to allow us to accompany the growth of our customers and satisfy their need for capacity, achieving a 36 percent increase in the transportation of flowers compared to the previous year," says Claudio Torres Faini, International Commercial Director of South America, LATAM Cargo Chile. "This achievement was possible thanks to a close collaboration with customers, suppliers and the airport team as well as the care and infrastructure needed for perishables. Together, a successful season was achieved."
(Photo Credit: LATAM Group)
In preparation for this high season, the LATAM group made 21 freighter aircraft available, thanks to the recent addition to its fleet of two cargo aircraft on a temporary basis, the release added. "This has given its cargo customers from Colombia and Ecuador added capacity and flexibility in this high demand period. Additionally, significant investments were made in the Miami hub, the primary arrival station for this product, to modernise the cold storage warehouses, currently representing around 9,000 m² of available space."
From Colombia, close to 13,000 tonnes of flowers, including roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums, were sent from the departments of Antioquia and Cundinamarca in over 220 flights, reflecting a 19 percent growth compared to Valentine's Day 2023.
On the Ecuadorian side, the group significantly increased the capacity offered for this season, with over 200 frequencies, allowing them to export nearly 11,500 tonnes of flowers to the main global markets, almost doubling the amount transported in 2023 for Valentine’s Day season, the release added.
