Valentine ’s Day is draw near and the global demand for fresh rose is at its peak . Over 9,000 tons of erotic love blossoms travel safely through Swissport ’s diligence - lead Flower Corridor , from the fields of the Kenyan highlands to Europe . The advanced logistics process also takes sustainability to the next level . extend ledge life and reduced waste improve the position of Kenyan cultivator compared to flower from less sustainable greenhouses in Europe , benefiting both consumer and the planet .

In the world of flower exports , where clock time sensitivity and insolence are non - on the table , Swissport takes center stage as a central role player in the complex door - to - door logistics . Every calendar week , 400 to 500 tons of payload , 85 percent of which is fresh flowers , authorise through Swissport ’s heroic 10,400 - straightforward - meter cargo center in Nairobi , Kenya . This intensity increase by 50 - 55 percent in the discharge - up to Valentine ’s Day . The facility , which is certified by IATA ’s CEIV Fresh , meticulously insure the safe manipulation of general cargo , perishables , and temperature - sensible goods , with a special centering on flowers - a major export from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ( JKIA ) .

“ Every yr Swissport successfully handles millions of sassy - turn off flowers between January and February , line up with peak demand during the Valentine ’s Day season , which set out in late January , ” explains Edwin Musungu , Head of Cargo Services at Swissport Nairobi . “ For the current class , we anticipate to handle approximately 9,000 rafts of flowers , a slight decrease from old days attributed to aircraft capacity restraint , with carriers prioritise the lucrative Chinese securities industry due to the overlap with the Lunar New Year in 2024 . ”

Central to addressing this logistical challenge is Swissport ’s Flower Corridor initiative , a cold - chain innovation that has transmute the manipulation of fresh - cut flowers connecting Nairobi with key locations in Europe such as Liege , Brussels , and Amsterdam , as well as markets in the Middle East and the Far East . Swissport ’s modern aura cargo centers earmark the quick handling of perishables in a temperature - controlled environment .

The innovational Flower Corridor seamlessly connects granger , airlines , and forwarders , and it not only stand for efficiency but also a commitment to environmental responsibility . Contrary to what many think , roses from Kenya have a littler environmental wallop than those grown in Europe , even when the carbon footprint of air conveyance is considered . The clime in Africa is optimal for cultivating prime , whereas recreating this surround in Europe often results in a meaning carbon footmark . According to a study ( Treeze , 2018 ) commission by Swiss retail chemical group Migros - Genossenschafts - Bund , greenhouse natural gas emissions from fairtrade roses produce in Kenya were discover to be four to six times lower , compare to roses grown in European greenhouse , with 6.5 times less DOE required ( strain shipping included ) . Major immune carrier , including Etihad Airways , Turkish Airlines , British Airways , the airline business of the Lufthansa Group , China Southern , and Egypt Air , place trust in Swissport ’s innovative outgrowth and expertise . Together , they produce a collaborative ecosystem aimed at extending the ledge life-time of frail flower by approximately seven day and importantly reducing waste .

“ Since the Flower Corridor was launch , Swissport has been working on perfect the cold chain solution to cater high - quality services that protect the unity of delicate flowers and maximise returns for customers , " aver Dirk Goovaerts , CEO Swissport CEMEA and Global Cargo Chair . " We ’re excited about the future of air load handling in Kenya and are working with local cargo communities as we continue to enhance our solution . "

The flowers journey at Swissport start with the legal transfer truck docking at the hermetically sealed gateway , which connects to the temperature - controlled perishable center . After immediate unloading , flowers undergo temperature screening to ensure the cold chain ’s wholeness . In the heart , flowers are gather into Unit Load Devices ( ULDs ) establish on carrier engagement , with optional vacuum cooling before exaltation to the stale way for aircraft loading . The facility boasts a cut - edge 110 pallet interconnected cold way , which spans 750 square meters and provides unlined admission from landside to airside . A two - palette primary deck vacuity cooler with the power to cool down two main deck pallets from 24ºC to a crisp 2ºC in 22 minute completes the body politic - of - the art perishables centre . Installed in January 2023 , it assure the cheekiness of perishable just before departure by maintaining low temperatures in the storage warehouse . The incorporate base enhance the efficiency of the logistics process and also allows major factor to utilize the cooler for delayed or offloaded shipments .

“ It ’s not just about shortening handling times ; it ’s about mitigating the risk of exposure of temperature impact on sensitive lading , " says Edwin Musungu . “ The primary objective is to control that every single pink wine arrives at its destination as fresh as the moment it was harvested , produce consumer felicity and better the carbon footprint . ”

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