American Airlines Cargo has flown record numbers of valuable koi carp, known as Nishikigoi, from Japan as demand for the prized fish continues to rise.

These ancient and long-living ornamental fish are highly prized by collectors, and their curated environments often serve as an element of artistic design. The most beautiful specimens can grow to over 100 cm long and cost USD 2 million each.

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The Nishikigoi is Japan’s national fish because of its beauty and elegance. It is considered a sign of great wealth and pride in many cultures. Therefore, the fish require special handling and care when air travel, as they are transported from native Japan to aquaculturists who import koi for collectors. The most popular feature on the fish is markings of two or three colours, including white, scarlet, and ink black.

American Airlines Cargo has been transporting koi in increasing volumes for 20 years. Their popularity has grown as ornamental fishkeeping expands globally, particularly in Hong Kong, the US, China, Germany, the Netherlands and Indonesia, accounting for 60% of their export value. Approximately 55% of koi breeders are in Niigata Prefecture, 250km north of Tokyo, with most of America’s export business of koi coming from this region.

In 2023, Japan’s American Airlines Cargo team transported koi in record volumes, more than 19,100 kg to LAX and 9,600 kilograms to DFW alone.

“These living works of art are beautiful creatures and require highly specialised knowledge and training to ship them. Our dedicated team under Keisuke Morita are true experts in their field,” says Emma Oliver, Director of Cargo Sales in Europe, Africa & the Middle East (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC). “The transportation of the Nishikigoi must be on direct flights due to their sensitivity, with great precautions taken to tailor their travel accommodations to their oxygen needs. I am proud of our teams trained to handle these shipments with the utmost care and expertise.”

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American currently operates two direct flights daily to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) from either Haneda Airport (HND) or Tokyo-Narita International Airport (NRT). As a member of United for Wildlife’s Transport Taskforce, America is dedicated to ending the illegal trafficking of wildlife. In December 2022, America signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration, making it the first U.S. airline and cargo carrier to join the organisation.

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