Air Freight: 3,100 Tonnes of Flowers Shipped from Kenya to Europe for Valentine’s Day 2026
Kenya–Europe air freight reached a seasonal peak ahead of Valentine’s Day 2026, with 3,100 tonnes of flowers shipped from Nairobi to Liège. The surge confirms the strategic role of the East Africa–Europe horticulture air corridor.
Kenya–Europe Air Freight Peak Concentrated Over Two Weeks
Between late January and 14 February 2026, Network Airline Management (NAM) transported 3.1 million kilograms of fresh-cut flowers from Nairobi to Liège.
To absorb the seasonal spike, the operator deployed:
- 16 scheduled flights
- 15 additional charter flights
- 31 rotations in total over two weeks
Each Boeing 747F operated at full payload, carrying more than 100 tonnes of roses and carnations per flight.
Overall volumes amounted to:
- more than 1,300 pallets
- an average pallet weight exceeding 2.3 tonnes
Since late 2025, NAM has increased its regular Nairobi–Liège schedule from six to eight weekly freighter flights.
A Stretched but Controlled Logistics Chain
Kenya remains Africa’s leading exporter of cut flowers to Europe. Air freight handles nearly all outbound volumes due to product perishability.
In Nairobi, ground handling operations were coordinated by NAS NBO, ensuring direct uplift to Liège, one of Europe’s main cargo gateways for African floriculture. Upon arrival:
- rapid customs clearance
- immediate trucking dispatch to the Netherlands, Germany, France and the United Kingdom
- delivery to wholesalers within 48 hours
The operational priority is clear: maintain uninterrupted cold chain integrity and keep total transit time under 72 hours from harvest to retail.
Immediate Operational Impact
The capacity ramp-up delivered several concrete effects:
- Secured export volumes for Kenyan growers
- Stable transit times during peak congestion
- Optimized cost per tonne through full aircraft utilization
In a context of tight global air cargo capacity and volatile fuel costs, pre-planned additional rotations reduced the risk of last-minute rate spikes and slot bottlenecks.
Why It Matters
- Air freight accounts for more than 30% of Kenya’s horticultural export revenues.
- The Nairobi–Liège route is a strategic gateway into Western Europe.
- The stable eight-flight weekly schedule strengthens supply chain visibility for exporters.
Regional Perspective: East Africa Consolidates Specialized Air Corridors
Kenya’s model reflects a broader regional trend: East Africa is structuring dedicated air corridors for high-value perishables, including flowers, fresh produce and pharmaceuticals.
With Liège positioned as a specialized cargo hub, the Kenya–Belgium corridor offers an alternative to more congested gateways such as Amsterdam or Frankfurt. This operational template could influence Ethiopia and Tanzania as they expand their own perishable export flows.
The 3,100-tonne record on the Kenya–Europe air freight corridor highlights the operational maturity of Kenya’s floriculture logistics chain. Increased frequency and additional seasonal capacity reinforce the resilience of a critical export flow for Kenya’s economy and for Europe’s seasonal flower supply.
