Flowers & plants air freight from Israel to United States

Why flowers & plants by airfreight?

Cut flowers and plants have a shelf life of only a few days. Airfreight is not an option — it is the only option. Roses picked in Kenya on Monday must be in the auction in Aalsmeer by Wednesday. This is only possible via airfreight 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 many years of experience with the specific requirements of flower transport: speed, cooling, phytosanitary documentation, and direct delivery to the auction.

Typical flower transport routes

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

Exporting to Israel

Israel is one of the most advanced technology economies in the world and a key market for Dutch machine parts, medical technology, and agri-tech. Schiphol operates multiple direct cargo flights per week to Tel Aviv (TLV), ensuring most shipments are cargo-to-cargo within 5–7 hours.

Customs & regulations

Israeli customs (Israel Tax Authority) use the Sha'ar Olami system for digital declarations. For most industrial goods, a commercial invoice, packing list, and— for goods covered under the EU-Israel Association Agreement — a EUR.1 or invoice declaration for preferential tariff treatment are sufficient. Separate registration requirements apply for medical, telecom, and cosmetic products through the Ministry of Health or the Standards Institution of Israel (SII).

Practical tips

• Request a EUR.1 or exporter’s declaration in time for preferential clearance — this can significantly reduce import duties
• Be mindful of Shabbat (Friday evening through Saturday) and Jewish holidays when processing is halted
• Dual-use goods require export licenses from the Netherlands and an end-user statement

Aircargo.nl works with dedicated agents at Ben Gurion and manages the full documentation chain — including preferential certificates and end-user declarations — for smooth handling.

Importing from the United States

Imports from the US often involve high-value goods: medical equipment, semiconductors, aerospace parts, pharmaceuticals, and specialized machinery. The approximately 9-hour flight time makes air freight the logical choice for time-sensitive or valuable shipments.

Customs on imports from the US

The US and EU do not have a free trade agreement, so standard EU import duties apply. Additional MDR/IVDR requirements apply for pharmaceuticals and medical devices when importing into the EU. Aerospace parts fall under EASA regulations and require specific certificates (EASA Form 1 or FAA 8130-3).

Frequently requested goods from the US

• Medical and surgical equipment
• Semiconductors and chipsets
• Aerospace parts (AOG)
• Pharmaceuticals and biotech products
• Machinery and industrial tools

Aircargo.nl manages daily import shipments from the US — including customs clearance, any FDA documentation, and delivery throughout the Netherlands.

Israel as a crosstrade destination

Schiphol serves as a major European hub for crosstrades with Tel Aviv as the final destination. Many American and European tech and defense suppliers route high-value shipments via AMS to TLV, as the Dutch customs regime is predictable and efficient for transit.

Aircargo.nl has permanent agents in Tel Aviv and can coordinate routing via El Al, KLM Cargo, or Cargolux as well as Israeli customs clearance — without the shipment having to touch Dutch soil.

Points of attention for flower transport

Cold chain

Flowers must be kept between 2–8°C throughout the entire transport. Any temperature interruption accelerates the aging process and reduces shelf life for the end customer. Aircargo.nl works exclusively with certified cool-chain handlers at Schiphol.

Phytosanitary requirements

A phytosanitary certificate is mandatory for importing plants and cut flowers from countries outside the EU. This certificate is issued by the plant health authority of the exporting country and confirms that the shipment is free from pests. Aircargo.nl routinely checks 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 are unsure about the CITES status of your products.