Miami International Airport (MIA) noted improved floral shipment volumes leading up to Valentine's Day this year.

The airport said business has been blooming in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, with the cargo gateway projecting that more than 1,500 tons of cut flowers will arrive daily between January 1 and the end of February – a 3% increase over the airport's record-breaking peak season in 2024.

"America's largest gateway for flowers, which welcomes 91% of all imports by air to the U.S., expects to receive 90,154 tons of cut flowers valued at more than $400 million during this year’s Valentine's Day rush," MIA said.

Flowers continue to be MIA's largest imported product by weight, accounting for 359,396 tons annually worth US$1.65 billion.

MIA said it benefits from having the country's most extensive air route network with Colombia and Ecuador, the two top flower-producing countries in the region that account for approximately 86% of all flowers imported to the U.S. by air.

Twelve cargo airlines provide freighter service from Colombia, and nine airlines have freighter service from Ecuador.

Additionally, four airlines operate passenger flights carrying belly cargo from Colombia, while two passenger airlines carry belly cargo from Ecuador.

"MIA is proud to be America's largest gateway for fresh flowers, with more than 1,500 tons projected to arrive daily this year for Valentine's Day, which would be a 3% increase over last year," said Ralph Cutie, MIA Director and CEO.

"Thanks to our strong partnership with the world’s top cargo airlines for transporting flowers and federal support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, millions of blooms will reach their destinations across the country in time for the holiday," he added.