Several international airlines withdrew their freight services at JKIA, citing low returns and opting for more lucrative routes.
Kenyan flowers are mainly sold to the Netherlands (about 70 per cent), followed by the Britain, Germany, Italy, and France.
Kenya’s flower producers are missing their export target by up to 20 per cent ahead of the peak Valentine’s Day, their lobby said, owing to high costs and disruptions after several international airlines withdrew their freight services at the main Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), citing lower returns compared to other routes.
The Kenya Flower Council CEO Clement Tulezi said producers are currently only accessing a freight capacity of about 3,500 tonnes per week against a demand of 4,800.
