Flowers & plants air freight from Thailand to India

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 Thailand

Thailand is one of the most dynamic economies in Southeast Asia and a key market for Dutch machinery, automotive parts, agri-technology, pharmaceuticals, and high-tech products. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Bangkok (BKK) via Thai Airways Cargo and KLM Cargo. Cargo-to-cargo transit usually takes 11–14 hours.

Customs & Regulations

The Thai customs operate with the e-Customs (NSW) system and are largely digitized. Most shipments require a commercial invoice, packing list, and — depending on the type of goods — an import license. Food products, cosmetics, and medical devices require prior FDA Thailand registration. Electrical products must comply with TISI certification requirements.

Practical Tips

• Always work with a registered Thai importer — clearance is not possible without a Thai business number
• FDA Thailand registration can take weeks — plan well in advance
• Be aware of Songkran (April) and King’s Day periods when processing is halted

Aircargo.nl works with fixed agents in Bangkok and manages the complete documentation chain — including FDA coordination — for smooth handling.

Importing from India

India is a leading producer of pharmaceutical APIs and generics, 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-critical pharmaceutical raw materials.

Specific points of attention

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

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

Thailand as a Crosstrade Hub

Bangkok (BKK) is one of the largest cargo hubs in Southeast Asia and a natural transit point for crosstrades within the region (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar). Schiphol regularly routes shipments via Thai Airways Cargo, KLM Cargo, and Lufthansa Cargo to BKK for further distribution within ASEAN.

Aircargo.nl has agency relationships in Bangkok and can coordinate crosstrade shipments — including Thai customs clearance and transit documentation — without the shipment needing to physically enter the Netherlands.

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.