Airports support peak flower season with special projects and infrastructure

In honor of Mother’s Day yesterday and the surge in airfreight demand that ensured mom would get her flowers on time, we at Cargo Airport News have identified three airport projects around the globe designed to meet peak season flower demand . These projects include: #3: Anchorage ( ANC ) plants peony test beds #2: Miami ( MIA ) supports flower shipments with streamlined procedures #1: Quito ( UIO ) plans to meet growing flower demand with infrastructure expansion Click on to read more about these airports’ flower projects and operations. #3: Anchorage ( ANC ) plants peony test beds Taking advantage of Anchorage Airport ’s (ANC) northern geographic location, airport authorities have initiated a project to test the viability of farming flowers at the airport. T he airport aims to provide fresh flowers during their peak season that may not be otherwise available elsewhere, while keeping freighters leaving the airport full . The airport planted peony seeds on a 400 square foot plot of land south of the airfield last autumn, which are now just beginning to bloom. Given the close proximity of the test beds to the airport, peonies can be clipped directly at the airport before being sent off on a plane to consumers domestically or internationally. ANC Airport Manager Jim Szczesniak told Cargo Airport News that the airport has 20 to 40 acres of land also south of the airfield available for farming should the project prove successful. Airport authorities will review and determine future plans for the project at the end of this or next summer. “Peony flowers are very popular during spring and wedding season, but often are not available because they bloom earlier in the year,” Szczesniak said. Alaska , however, has a later blooming season, which means that when these flowers bloom in Alaska they can be sent out during the peak of wedding season. Szczesniak also said that the project is intended to further support airport authorities’ aims to ensure that freighters leaving the airport are full and fees for airport stakeholders are kept low, but did not provide further details on the matter. The flower test bed project will be supported by the freight forwarders ’ refrigerated warehouses at the airport, as well as ANC’s upcoming construction of its new “Quick Cargo Center” building that is expected to include cool-chain facilities. #2: Miami ( MIA ) supports flower shipments with streamlined procedures Miami International Airport (MIA) is well known for the high volumes of perishables that move through its airport. In the realm of flowers alone, MIA reported that during 2018 it handled 88.7% of all flowers coming into the United States by air. To support its perishable volumes and flower shipments, specifically, the airport offers special on-airport infrastructure and procedures. As most of the flower and perishable volumes coming into MIA are from South America, the airport hosts its Cargo Clearance Center (CCC) on airport property, which houses all U.S. Federal Agencies to provide a one-stop clearance center for documentation. In addition to this center, the airport also has a dedicated “Plant Protection Quarantine Inspection Station” building for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Plant Protection and Quarantine division. The building includes a laboratory where officers can inspect foreign plants that may contain pests or diseases not native to the U .S . “The laboratory and operations of USDA at the airport provide a huge advantage – if an odd insect or something is found in flower or perishables shipments, it can be analyzed immediately at airport, rather than needing to be sent to Alabama for the same procedure, which can save companies time and money,” MIA Aviation Trade and Logistics Manager Emir Pineda said in an interview with Cargo Airport News . USDA also monitors the airport’s on-site flower and perishable fumigation trailers that are located on the west side of the airport adjacent to MIA’s “Cargo City , ” which houses the operations of its cargo providers including LATAM Cargo, UPS, Avianca, Estafeta , Atlas, C.H. Robinson and Strat Air. According to MIA, the total facilities combined offer more than 400,000 square feet of refrigerated warehousing for perishables. Beyond its booming perishables business, which the airport expects will continue to grow, MIA has recently welcomed the expansion of operations by several stakeholders at airport, including Aeroterm , Ethiopian Airlines , Turkish Cargo and Southern Air . These expansion have likely contributed to the airport’s 2.8% increase in volumes year-over-year, and no. 9 ranking in our top 25 cargo airports rankings for 2018. #1: Quito ( UIO ) plans to meet growing flower demand with infrastructure expansion Located in Ecuador’s capitol city of Quito, Quito Airport (UIO) serves as the conduit for the massive amounts of flowers – especially roses – grown in its surrounding area. To meet burgeoning demand for flowers and perishables, UIO is increasing its available cargo capacity and infrastructure. To strengthen its operations, UIO built a sixth aircraft stand and expanded its palletizing area by 1,000 square meters in 2018. This year, the airport plans to carry out several expansion projects, including the extension of its 28 land-side cargo doc k s, as well as reconfiguring its air-side taxiway. Further details for these projects are yet to be determined but are expected to be announced over the coming months. Given the massive amount of flowers it handles – 90% of exports leaving the airport are flowers – UIO prides itself on its expertise on the handling requirements of these sensitive and perishable products . UIO also prioritizes working efficiently under pressure during extreme peaks in flower exports, notably during Valentine’s Day, Russian Women’s Day and American Mother’s Day seasons. “During the 10-day peak period for Valentine’s day in 2018, during those 10 days, we handled 644 flights and over 1,000 semi-trailer and other delivery trucks,” Alisson Larrea , manager, corporate affairs and marketing at UIO, told Cargo Airport News . UIO will be an airport to watch , as it was recently voted one of the top airports in our sister site’s, Air Cargo World’s, ACE Awards 2019, and welcomed increased temporary operations from carriers during peak Valentine’s Day season earlier this year.

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