Cargolux Airlines International has changed the routing of its flower flights from South America to the Netherlands and flies these services directly to Amsterdam instead of Maastricht. The airline noted that this significantly enhances its service offering and strengthens its commitment to its customers in this product segment. Up to 90 per cent of the capacity on these flights is filled with goods for the Dutch market.

Cargolux said the move was based on customer requests, most of whom are active in the Amsterdam flower market. Flying directly to Amsterdam reduces transit times, as the flowers had to be trucked from Maastricht before. Customers now enjoy a faster delivery that better fits their schedules. Growing the operation in the Netherlands also enables Cargolux to operate more flexibly in the Dutch export markets for products that are difficult to transport by road.

Cargolux has served the South American perishables markets for 17 years and is leader in the flower transport market. The airline operated its first charter flight to Bogota in September 1997 for a major flower producer. Soon after Cargolux was requested to begin weekly flights to Colombia. Quito came online in December 1997, served with feeder flights by Aerosucre. A second weekly service was introduced in February 1998. Flights to Bogota became scheduled services in late 2000; Cargo Link and Mawney became Cargolux GSAs. Finally, Latacunga became a new destination in December 2000.

Cargolux customers profit from the expertise of the company’s CV Fresh product that offers tailor-made solutions for flower shippers in South America on the airline’s three weekly services dedicated to this commodity. Cargolux flies roughly 95 tonnes of flowers per week from Latacunga and Bogota to the Netherlands, where they are sold on the famous Aalsmeer auctions, the largest trading centre for plants and flowers worldwide, a stone’s throw from Schiphol airport.