Flowers & Plants air freight from Chile to India

Why ship flowers & plants by air freight?

Cut flowers and plants have a shelf life of only a few days. Air freight is not just an option — it’s the only option. Roses picked in Kenya on Monday need to be at the auction in Aalsmeer by Wednesday. This is only possible through air freight with a controlled cold chain.

The Netherlands is the world’s largest trading nation in cut flowers, and Schiphol is the epicenter. Aircargo.nl has years of experience with the specific demands of flower transport: speed, cooling, phytosanitary documentation, and direct delivery to the auction.

Typical flower transport routes

• Kenya (roses, lilies) → Schiphol: several times daily
• Ecuador & Colombia (roses, chrysanthemums) → Schiphol via Miami or direct
• Ethiopia → Schiphol: growing cut flower sector
• Export Dutch flowers → USA, Japan, Russia, China

Exporting to Chile

Chile is one of the most open economies in the world and has an Association Agreement with the EU that offers preferential or zero tariff imports. Key markets include machinery, mining equipment, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, and agri-technology. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Santiago (SCL) via KLM Cargo and LATAM Cargo. Cargo-to-cargo transit usually takes 14–18 hours.

Customs & Regulations

Chilean customs (Servicio Nacional de Aduanas) operate efficiently and relatively smoothly. For most shipments, a commercial invoice, packing list, and — for preferential clearance under the EU-Chile agreement — a EUR.1 or issuer’s declaration suffice. SAG (Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero) inspections apply for food and agricultural products. Medical devices require ISP registration.

Practical Tips

• Request a EUR.1 or issuer’s declaration in time for preferential clearance — this can significantly reduce tariffs
• SAG phytosanitary requirements for wooden packaging (ISPM 15) are strictly enforced
• Documentation in Spanish is common and speeds up clearance

Aircargo.nl works with established agents in Santiago and arranges the complete documentation chain — including preferential certificates and SAG coordination — to ensure smooth processing.

Importing from India

India is a leading producer of pharmaceutical APIs and generic drugs, textiles, precious and semi-precious stones, and IT hardware. The Indian pharma industry supplies hundreds of Dutch and European importers — and air freight is the standard mode for time-sensitive pharmaceutical raw materials.

Specific Considerations

• Pharmaceutical APIs require GMP certificates and European registration
• Precious stones and jewelry need detailed value declarations and insurance certificates
• Textiles may be subject to anti-dumping measures — check the HS code

Aircargo.nl guides importers through European customs clearance of Indian goods and ensures all required certificates are in place.

Chile as a Crosstrade Destination

Schiphol is a logical European hub for crosstrades to Chile — especially for Asian shipments routed via AMS to SCL. LATAM Cargo, KLM Cargo, and Cargolux operate these routes. Conversely, Chilean fresh products (salmon, berries, cherries) are distributed through Schiphol to the wider European market.

Aircargo.nl has agent relationships in Santiago and can coordinate crosstrade documentation — including Chilean customs clearance and SAG phytosanitary handling — without the shipment having to physically touch Dutch soil.

Key considerations for flower transport

Cold chain

Flowers must be kept at 2–8°C throughout transport. Any break in temperature accelerates aging and reduces shelf life for the end buyer. Aircargo.nl only works with certified cold-chain handlers at Schiphol.

Phytosanitary requirements

Imports of plants and cut flowers from outside the EU require a phytosanitary certificate. This certificate is issued by the plant health authority of the exporting country and confirms the shipment is free of pests. Aircargo.nl routinely verifies and processes all phytosanitary documents.

CITES

Certain orchids and exotic plants fall under CITES protection and require a CITES permit. Always contact us if you’re unsure about the CITES status of your products.