How fresh flowers travel the world with SWISS

Flowers say more than a thousand words – especially on Valentine’s Day. But before a rose reaches the heart of a loved one, it often embarks on a long journey. Here are six surprising facts about the air transport of flowers that show love can’t do without logistics.

#1 Millions of flowers take off 
Flowers are in demand year-round, but especially in the months of September, October, and January and February, when key holidays like Valentine’s Day and the end of the year spark a surge in flower orders. Every year, Swiss WorldCargo transports 900 tons of flowers – that’s about 1800 air cargo containers filled with fragrant treasures. With that amount, every person in Switzerland – around 9 million people – could be gifted a flower five times a year.

"Every year, Swiss WorldCargo transports 900 tons of flowers."

#2 The journey of flowers – from Africa to Europe 
The main exporters are Kenya, Ecuador, and Colombia, where flowers grow under ideal conditions. From there, they make their way on long journeys – mainly to Europe and the U.S., with flight routes to Amsterdam, Miami, and New York. In Europe, most flowers land in Amsterdam, one of the world’s largest flower hubs. There, they are traded at the world-famous flower auctions – a fascinating spectacle where millions of blooms are auctioned off daily. They then continue their journey to florists, markets, and customers all over Europe.

#3 2025 will top 2024 – busy times above the clouds 
There was no significant increase in transport numbers around Valentine’s Day in 2024. However, 2025 will see a marked increase: By now, Swiss WorldCargo has already flown 90 additional tons of flowers around the world for Valentine’s Day. The peak came in early February when 22 tons were transported in a single day – the daily average so far in February has been 10 tons.

Ready for transport: Once perfectly stowed and securely fastened, the flowers are ready for transport to countries like the USA and Europe.
Ready for transport: Once perfectly stowed and securely fastened, the flowers are ready for transport to countries like the USA and Europe. © Swiss WorldCargo

#4 Speed beats romance 
Flowers have a stricter schedule than top executives. They are classified as perishable goods and need to be in the airplane within a few hours of being harvested. While we’re still enjoying our morning coffee, a freshly cut rose is already on its way into the air.

#5 Keep fresh, avoid bananas 
Flowers are delicate and need special care to maintain their freshness. A lot of factors need to be considered during transport: humidity, light, air circulation, and even proximity to other plants. A critical factor is ethylene – a natural plant hormone that speeds up the ripening and aging process when released in gas form. Fruits like apples, bananas, avocados, tomatoes, and mangoes emit large amounts of ethylene. If flowers are stored nearby, their wilting process accelerates, and their lifespan is drastically shortened. 

#6 Why travel so far? 
Fresh flowers need the perfect climate - and that's what countries like Ecuador, Colombia and Kenya offer. There, flora and fauna thrive in optimal conditions all year round. While countries like Switzerland also have beautiful flowers that bloom in the warm summer months, the colder climate and shorter growing season make it difficult to keep certain flower varieties available year-round—especially in winter when supply is limited.

Whether as a big surprise or a small gesture – every flower has an extraordinary journey behind it. SWISS ensures it arrives safely, on time, and in perfect freshness – because love knows no boundaries, only flight routes.