Avianca Cargo has reported transporting more than 19,000 tonnes of flowers from Colombia to the US during the 2026 Valentine’s Day season, recording 6% year-on-year growth and reinforcing its position as the leading carrier on the trade.
Over a 22-day peak period, the Colombian freight carrier operated close to 320 freighter flights, moving fresh-cut flowers primarily into Miami and Los Angeles, with notable volume gains at both gateways.
Los Angeles recorded over 40% growth, while Miami saw 4% growth compared with the previous season.
To support the uplift in volumes, Avianca Cargo implemented a reinforced operational plan, investing in infrastructure upgrades, digitalisation projects, and increasing its seasonal workforce by more than 30%.
Specialised teams were deployed at critical hubs to ensure continuity of service and uninterrupted US imports.
The carrier’s performance was underpinned by a joint fleet of nine freighter aircraft, operated in coordination with Avianca Cargo Mexico, enabling higher capacity and tighter scheduling across key lanes to the US.
Diogo Elias, chief executive of Avianca Cargo, said: “By doubling our cargo capacity and operating a joint freighter fleet across the Americas, and reinforcing key lanes to the United States, we are reaching the market efficiently and at the highest quality standards. This performance reflects the dedication of our teams and the strength of our partnerships across the floriculture supply chain.”
Cold-chain integrity was maintained end-to-end throughout the season, with flowers handled exclusively in temperature-controlled zones, internal coolers kept between 4-8°C, and shipments dispatched primarily on aircraft equipped with temperature-controlled holds.
On the peak day of the 2026 season, Avianca Cargo reported it handled close to one freighter arrival per hour in Miami alone, receiving more than 1,300 tonnes of flowers, highlighting the scale and resilience of its Valentine’s Day operation.
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