The carrier's cargo arm will be transporting over 1,500 tonnes of the delicate goods this year; equivalent to some 40m roses or the capacity of 16 MD-11 freighter aircraft.
As standard, Lufthansa Cargo adds special charter flights to its regular flight schedule in February – this year with flights from Quito and Nairobi to Frankfurt – in order to meet increased demand for Valentine's Day. The airline developed its Fresh/td product specifically for the shipment of perishables, such as flowers and food, which boasts all the latest equipment and facilities necessary for the safe transportation of sensitive cargo .
The roses’ journey usually starts in Kenya and South America, where an ideal climate all year round ensures optimum growing conditions. The flowers are harvested at the farms several times a day and immediately placed in water and cooled. After being sorted and packaged, the roses are sent straight to the airport where they are loaded into the cooled cargo holds of the freighters.The roses stop at Frankfurt airport for a very short time: sophisticated logistics ensures they are quickly and carefully transported from the countries where they are cultivated to their final destinations, finding their way into the hands of recipients all over Europe within a few hours of landing.
