AFKLMP Cargo moves 3,300 tonnes of flowers to Europe

Feb 14, 2019: Air France KLM Martinair (AFKLMP) Cargo has shipped about 3,300 tonnes (up 10 percent compared to last year) of flowers to Europe from leading production and export countries such as Kenya, Ecuador, and Colombia over a two-week period in January and February. These included Kenya's roses - Rhodos. The additional 1,100 tonnes for Valentine's Day consist of some 57,500,000 stems.

Using its B747-400 full-freighter and combi-aircraft, the airline was able to generate ample main deck capacity to and from our three main flower starting points of Nairobi, Quito, and Bogota. For the first time, AFKLMP rerouted four B777F flights from Nairobi to Paris via Amsterdam to support the demand for flowers and Dutch trade. The bellies of long-haul passenger aircraft and interline partners are also well suited to carrying flowers to Europe. The greatest share of our capacity is mainly intended to supply the European markets - primarily Dutch, English, Italian, French, Russian, Asian, and most notably Japanese. 

In 2018, AFKLMP Cargo shipped more than 84,000 tonnes of flowers from Africa and Latin America to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. 

"We met seasonal peak flower demand for this year's Valentine's Day with enormous success. We are proud to show our strong commitment and professional dedication to the international flower business, which has a proven history over so many decades," Marcel de Nooijer, executive vice president, AFKLMP Cargo said. 

To move flowers and plants seamlessly from grower to wholesaler, Royal FloraHolland, Schiphol Cargo, and AFKLMP Cargo have initiated the Holland Flower Alliance, an ambitious group of floricultural logistics professionals dedicated to the pursuit of innovation and sustainability in the floral supply chain. Amsterdam remains Europe's logistics centre for the flower market, with Schiphol Airport as the world's preferred flower hub, connecting all key production and consumer markets.