• Etihad Cargo and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo are embedding AI into forecasting and capacity planning, using historical demand and booking data to anticipate seasonal spikes and flag operational risks before they disrupt sensitive flower shipments.

• Real-time visibility is transforming perishables logistics: in-transit sensors and tracking tools now monitor temperature, humidity and location, allowing airlines to intervene early, reduce spoilage and improve cold-chain reliability across long-haul and multi-leg movements.

• Competitive differentiation is shifting towards precision and sustainability, combining advanced packaging, airflow design and strict early-stage cooling with growing demands for emissions transparency—positioning data-led cold-chain control as both a quality and carbon imperative.

Shipping flowers by air has always been about precision. But increasingly, it’s also about prediction.

Whether it’s knowing how much capacity to allocate for a late Valentine’s surge, or tracking a drop in temperature inside a flower box mid-flight, carriers are relying more on algorithms, sensors, and cold-chain data to stay ahead of problems before they happen.

For perishables like flowers, where even small deviations reduce vase life – tech isn’t optional anymore. It’s becoming central to how airlines plan, move, and monitor one of air cargo’s most delicate shipments.

At Etihad Cargo, AI is already part of capacity and demand forecasting. “AI enhances forecasting and capacity planning by analysing Etihad Cargo’s customer historical demand, booking patterns, and operational data,” said Andy Newbold, Head of Commercial Cargo.

That allows the airline to anticipate volume spikes around key events like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day, and to flag operational risks early — from limited space at origin airports to delayed handovers on the ground.

At Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP), Julius Post, Business Development Manager Fresh, agrees AI is useful — but only if it’s practical. “AI supports planning by optimising processes and generating new operational insights,” he said. “However, air cargo operations still involve a significant manual handling component, so AI-driven recommendations must remain practical and applicable in day-to-day operations.”

The biggest shift is visibility. Both Etihad and AFKLMP now use in-transit tracking to get a clearer picture of what happens to flowers once they’re in the system.

“Many growers and importers are increasingly using trackers and sensors within shipments,” said Post. “This provides greater transparency across the cool chain and helps identify opportunities for improvement.”

Etihad’s SmartTrack is offering real-time readouts on temperature, humidity, and light exposure, alongside GPS positioning. That combination of location and environmental data is critical, especially for long-haul or multi-leg shipments.

“It allows potential issues to be identified and addressed before they impact quality,” Newbold said. “Delivering greater transparency, improved risk management, and increased confidence for both shippers and forwarders.”

In short, airlines can now see where the risk is building — and act before it becomes spoilage.

The physical side of cool chain is also evolving. Temperature-controlled containers, insulated packaging, and newer phase-change materials are being deployed more widely to buffer fluctuations in long-haul routes or during transit delays.

Newbold said that combining packaging advances with Etihad’s controlled aircraft environments has “delivered measurable improvements in reliability and spoilage reduction.”

But just as important as insulation is airflow — how air circulates through packaging. At AFKLMP, packaging is being designed not just for protection, but for efficient cooling.

“Proper pre-cooling, temperature-controlled storage, and airflow-optimised packaging are key contributors,” said Post.

Still, no amount of tech can compensate for weak execution at the start of the journey. Both carriers underline the need for early cooling — ideally within hours of harvest — and close collaboration with shippers and handlers at origin.

From temperature control to carbon control

As digital tools grow more precise, so does customer pressure for emissions transparency. Both airlines report rising demand for carbon footprint data, especially in Europe. “Demand for emissions reporting and greater transparency is increasing, particularly among forwarders,” said Newbold. “Sustainability performance is becoming an increasingly important factor alongside reliability and speed.”

AFKLMP takes a similar view. From fleet renewal to packaging efficiency, everything is under review — and under scrutiny. Post said packaging optimisation is now a frequent discussion with customers: “It reduces waste, lowers material use, and improves space efficiency.”

There’s also a sustainability argument for cold-chain precision. Flowers that spoil in transit don’t just disappoint customers — they carry a carbon cost, and all the emissions of a wasted journey.

“Maintaining a strict and unbroken cool chain is paramount not only for preserving product quality,” said Post, “but also for significantly reducing product spoilage and associated waste.”

For both airlines, the future is clearly more digital. But neither is chasing tech for its own sake. Planning still relies on close human coordination, especially around unpredictable demand spikes. Sensors don’t replace cold rooms. AI doesn’t yet solve bottlenecks.

The goal is augmentation, not automation. “We continuously explore ways to integrate AI in a realistic and effective manner,” said Post.

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