Air cargo demand blooms ahead of Valentine’s Day
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.
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.”
Image: © dnata
Avianca Cargo records increase in Valentine’s Day flower volumes
Avianca Cargo saw its flower volumes transported to the US for the upcoming Valentine’s Day increase this year, thanks to increased capacity and a workforce expansion.
The Colombian airline said that its Valentine’s Day flower volumes were up 6% year on year to more than 19,000 tons – its highest in five years. The carrier operated a total of almost 320 cargo flights during the 22-day season, moving flowers from Ecuador and Colombia to its US stations in Miami and Los Angeles.
The airline said that to meet the surge in demand, it had increased its workforce by more than 30%.
Meanwhile, the carrier doubled its cargo capacity from Colombia and tripled its capacity from Ecuador.
“For the 2026 Valentine’s Day season, we strengthened our operation to deliver the capacity, reliability, and consistency our customers depend on during the industry’s most critical peak,” said Diogo Elias, chief executive of Avianca Cargo.
