#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 990 tons of flowers, that’s about 2000 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.

#2 Busy times above the clouds 
Around Valentine’s Day, an additional 90 tons of flowers took off  in 2025. The absolute record was set on a single day in February, when 22 tons departed, all heading out to say «I love you» somewhere in the world. But what about Mother’s Day? The demand is there, yet the spike is softer. Still, from 1 to 11 May 2025, we transported around 26 tons of bouquets to brighten the day for mums across the globe. And then there is Easter, the surprisingly big player in spring. Ahead of Easter Sunday on 20 April 2025, flower shipments bloomed dramatically. In just two weeks, Swiss WorldCargo moved roughly 60 tons of fresh florals.

#3 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.

#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.