Flowers & plants air freight from Turkey to Canada

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 Turkey

Turkey is one of the Netherlands’ key trade partners just outside the EU. The country is part of a customs union with the EU for industrial products, which greatly simplifies import procedures. Schiphol operates multiple direct cargo flights daily to Istanbul (IST) via Turkish Cargo — the market leader in air freight. Cargo-to-cargo transit usually takes 4–6 hours.

Customs & Regulations

The EU-Turkey customs union applies to industrial products: Dutch goods in free circulation can be cleared duty-free with an A.TR certificate. This customs union does not apply to agricultural products — EUR.1 certificates or regular import duties apply here. For foodstuffs, cosmetics, and medical devices, TITCK and Tarim Bakanligi registrations are required.

Practical Tips

• A correct A.TR certificate is essential for duty-free clearance — verify this for every shipment
• Consider inflation-related exchange rate fluctuations when pricing
• Documentation in Turkish or English is acceptable — Turkish customs are largely digitized

Aircargo.nl works closely with Turkish Cargo and local agents in Istanbul to manage the complete documentation process — including A.TR and EUR.1 certificates — for optimal handling.

Importing from Canada

Imports from Canada mainly consist of high-tech products, medical equipment, raw materials, food items (salmon, maple syrup, lobster), and industrial components. Air freight is ideal for perishables, samples, and urgent parts.

Air Freight vs. Sea Freight

Sea freight from Halifax, Montreal, or Vancouver to Rotterdam takes 8–16 days. Air freight via Schiphol is usually clearance-ready within 1 business day — essential for fresh products and high-value shipments.

Customs for Imports from Canada

Under CETA, Canadian goods enjoy preferential import duties or zero tariffs, provided a proper Statement of Origin is submitted. Fresh products are subject to EU phytosanitary and veterinary inspections at Schiphol via the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Aircargo.nl manages full customs clearance including NVWA coordination.

Frequently Requested Goods from Canada

• Fresh products (seafood, meat, maple syrup)
• High-tech products and medical equipment
• Aerospace components
• Specialty minerals and raw materials

Turkey as a Crosstrade Hub

Istanbul (IST) is one of the most advanced cargo hubs in the world and home to Turkish Cargo — market leader in air freight volume in Europe. Schiphol extensively uses Istanbul as a transit hub for shipments heading to Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Conversely, cargo from those regions is routed via IST to AMS for European distribution.

Aircargo.nl has direct connections with Turkish Cargo and local agents in Istanbul, coordinating freight documentation for both transit shipments and final deliveries to Turkey.

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.