“We saw a gap in the marketplace for delivery of fresh flowers to the North Texas area that was historically done by trucks that took far longer and resulted in products with significantly reduced shelf life,” said Milton De La Paz, Vice President of Airline Relations. “With our state-of-the-art cold chain facilities and strategic location, DFW is well-equipped to bring in-demand imports to the Metroplex and the state. Qatar Cargo seized the opportunity to supply the region with fresh flowers direct from Colombia,” De La Paz continues.
The journey of these flowers is undertaken by a Qatar Cargo flight from Bogota, Colombia, where the product is loaded onto a Boeing 777-200F aircraft and brought directly to DFW. The cargo holds an array of blooms, ranging from roses and carnations to assorted bouquets. Upon arrival, these flowers are distributed across the state, reaching local distribution centers, supermarkets, and florists within hours. Direct delivery to DFW means approximately 2-3 days of additional shelf life for consumers in the region.
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DWF Airport
www.dfwairport.com
DFW is home to a cargo flight that transports approximately 12 tons of fresh-cut flowers from South America to Texas every week. The flight began last spring after DFW worked with Qatar Cargo to launch a special cargo operation that filled a need to supply the local market with flowers that are hours old instead of days.
In December 2023, fresh-cut flower imports to the U.S. were valued at $149 billion, according to the most recent data from the US Census Bureau, as analyzed by WorldCity. The airport is focused on growing its handling of temperature-sensitive products, leveraging its cold chain facility.
The flowers and bouquets that will be purchased by tens of thousands of people across the North Texas region this Valentine’s Day are expected to be a lot fresher thanks to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Qatar Cargo.