• LATAM Cargo has retained its position as the leading air carrier for South American flower exports for the fourth consecutive year, transporting 24,400 metric tons of fresh flowers during the 2026 Mother’s Day season from Colombia and Ecuador to global markets.
• The 21-day peak operation involved over 430 dedicated flights from Bogotá, Quito and Medellín, with ground handling capacity more than doubling to manage volumes equivalent to around 560 million stems shipped across three continents.
• Built on coordinated planning across commercial and operational teams, the programme combined advance capacity scheduling and expanded freighter plus bellyhold operations, with the US remaining the largest destination market alongside growth into Europe, Oceania, Chile and Brazil.

LATAM Group, through its cargo subsidiaries, closed the 2026 Mother’s Day season having transported 24,400 tons of flowers from South America. The result consolidates the company’s leadership for the fourth consecutive year in floral air cargo from the region, built on three pillars the company has strengthened season after season: commercial foresight, capacity planning, and operational coordination.

“The prior alignment between commercial and operational teams means that certainty is not ours alone: it belongs to the producer who knows their product will arrive on time and in optimal condition, and to the importer who can make commercial commitments backed by real capacity,” said Claudio Torres Faini, International Commercial Director for South America, LATAM Cargo.

The operation was coordinated from three origin airports — Bogotá, Quito, and Medellín — encompassing more than 430 dedicated flights for the season. To sustain this standard, ground crew staffing more than doubled compared to a regular week, reinforcing ramp, warehouse, and supervisory teams across all three hubs.

An operation planned in advance

Close collaboration with growers and exporters was critical. Having volume data available several days in advance made it possible to size the required resources at every point in the supply chain — from cargo receipt at the warehouse to the cut-off of each flight frequency — ensuring a best-in-class service standard.

The volume transported is equivalent to approximately 560 million stems. To put that figure into perspective: throughout the 21 days of the season, more than 300 stems per second departed South America bound for destination markets across three continents.

Growth across three continents

The United States accounted for the largest share of volume, in line with the historical demand structure. Dynamic growth was also recorded outside that corridor: Oceania, Europe, Chile, and Brazil all posted notable gains during the season — a signal that demand for fresh flowers from Colombia and Ecuador continues to expand into less traditional consumer markets.

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