Air France KLM Martinair Cargo transported approximately 5,000 tonnes of flowers from major production centres such as Kenya, Ecuador and Colombia to Europe over a five-week period from February to March 2017, in time for Valentine’s Day and International Women’s Day.

Royal FloraHolland in Aalsmeer, near Amsterdam, is the world’s largest trading centre for flowers. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol plays a key role in connecting exporters with consumer markets in Europe and Asia.

“With one extra full-charter freight flight, upgrading aircraft capacity and making full use of our extensive widebody belly passenger network, AFKLMP Cargo is proud to show our ongoing commitment and dedication to the flower business, which has a proven history over so many decades,” said Marcel de Nooijer, executive vice president of Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, which transported more than 60,000 tonnes of flowers from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ecuador and Colombia to Schiphol.

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Royal FloraHolland formed the Holland Flower Alliance in 2016 to strengthen Amsterdam’s position as the leading flower hub.