Avianca Cargo delivered a record performance during the 2026 Mother’s Day flower season, confirming its strategic role in the perishables trade between Latin America and the United States.
The carrier transported more than 21,000 tonnes of flowers during the campaign, representing around 42% of Colombia’s flower exports to the U.S. market.
When including shipments from Ecuador, Avianca Cargo estimates that one in every three flowers exported from the region to the United States moved on board its aircraft.
To absorb the seasonal peak, the airline operated more than 330 cargo flights, surpassing the levels recorded during the 2025 campaign. The operation was supported by nine dedicated freighters, two more than the previous year, alongside additional charter capacity.
At the height of the season, Avianca Cargo handled up to 24 daily departures and transported nearly 24 million flower stems in a single 24-hour period.
CEO Diogo Elias said the performance reflected not only the scale of the operation, but also the level of coordination achieved across the logistics chain.
Miami International Airport again played a central role as the main flower gateway into the United States, processing more than 1,500 tonnes of flowers per day during the peak period.
To improve operational fluidity, Avianca Cargo reinforced several key areas, including:
* a 20% increase in ground personnel in Miami;
* the opening of a new U.S. customs inspection area;
* a 35% expansion of warehousing capacity in Bogota;
* and a 41% capacity increase in Medellin.
The airline also maintained strong positions on key trade lanes, with around 65% market share between Medellin and Miami, and nearly 35% between Bogota and Miami.
Avianca Cargo also increased its U.S. West Coast activity through additional frequencies into Los Angeles.
For U.S. authorities, the Mother’s Day flower season remains a major agricultural and sanitary challenge, requiring extensive inspections to prevent pests and diseases from entering the country.
