MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2025--
Avianca Cargo, a leading cargo carrier in the region, successfully concluded its Mother’s Day 2025 seasonwith a historic record, transporting over 20,100 tons of fresh flowers—a 15% increase compared to last year. The shipments originated from Colombia and Ecuador, reaching destinations across North America and Europe.
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This achievement reinforces Avianca Cargo’s position as the #1 flower carrier from Colombiato the United States and solidifies its status as one of the top players in the global flower transportation market.
To meet the heightened seasonal demand, Avianca Cargo doubled its operational capacity, expanded critical infrastructure, and delivered 24/7 flower service across strategic terminals without disrupting its broader operations.
“Mother’s Day is one of the most important seasons for the flower industry, and we are proud to once again fulfill our commitment. We celebrate a historic record that reaffirms our market position and leadership as the flower carrier of the season between Colombia and the United States," said Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo. "Thanks to all our key stakeholders and clients, we recognize each of these 20,100 tons as a shared achievement.”
Key Logistics & Infrastructure Milestones:
With over five decades of experience, Avianca Cargo reaffirmed its leadership in key markets:
Miami played a pivotal role in Avianca Cargo’s Mother’s Day 2025 operations, serving as the primary gateway for flower imports into the United States.
Avianca Cargo was the first airline in the Americas to receive CEIV Fresh certification, underscoring its leadership in perishable transport, which accounts for over 50% of its cargo. Ensuring flower longevity requires specialized knowledge, including process documentation on temperature control at critical points as well as risk analysis—essential tools for proper handling of each product.
During 2024 Avianca Cargo transported over 150,300 tons of flowers, more than 85%, through Miami hub. To support this increased volume, Avianca Cargo boosted its local workforce by 30%, reinforcing Miami’s position as the main point of entry for Colombian and Ecuadorian flowers. Miami not only enabled the efficient distribution of blooms nationwide but also contributed to the broader economic impact of the floral industry. The city’s strategic importance continues to grow as Avianca Cargo expands its capacity and strengthens partnerships across the supply chain.
With an ongoing commitment to service excellence, sustainability, and operational innovation, Avianca Cargo continues to lead the market in perishable goods transportation and to invest in future-ready solutions.
“Thanks to airline partners like Avianca, more than 1,000 tons of flowers have been arriving at MIA every day in the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day,”said Ralph Cutié, Miami International Airport Director and CEO.“That equals nine out of every 10 flowers imported to the U.S. In fact, flowers continue to be MIA’s largest imported product, accounting for nearly 380,000 tons worth $1.8 billion annually. Congratulations to Avianca on having its best Mother’s Day season ever for flower shipments, which is helping MIA have yet another record year in cargo volume.”
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado highlighted that,“Almost every flower that will be touched by a mother or grandmother in the United States came through Miami International Airport and through Avianca. And that’s why today we celebrate the partnership, the infrastructure, and focus in on the different points throughout the supply chain.”
About Avianca Cargo
Avianca Cargo, an air cargo airline, is the main operator in different markets in the Americas with a capacity of 220 cargo flights and more than 1,400 passenger flights with bellies. It serves more than 70 destinations in the route network in Latin America, United States and Europe, and 70 interline agreements connecting the airline to more than 350 destinations worldwide, with the average cargo fleet with the lowest environmental impact. It is the first airline in the Americas to obtain IATA CEIV certifications in four different categories: Pharma, Fresh, Live and Lithium Batteries; in 2024 it was recognized as one of the six Best Cargo Airline in the Americas by Air Cargo News and continues to elevate its position in relevant markets and in 2024 received the ESG Award from the Aviation Achievement Awards.
Avianca Cargo moved more than 20,100 tons on 300 dedicated cargo flights, exclusively for flower shipments.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke an 1807 law and deploy troops to quell persistent protests against the federal officers sent to Minneapolis to enforce his administration's massive immigration crackdown.
The threat comes a day after a man was shot and wounded by an immigration officer who had been attacked with a shovel and broom handle. That shooting further heightened the fear and anger that has radiated across the city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used federal law, to deploy the U.S. military or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, over the objections of state governors.
“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump said in social media post.
Presidents have invoked the law more than two dozen times, most recently in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush to end unrest in Los Angeles. In that instance, local authorities had asked for the assistance.
Trump has repeatedly toyed with the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act, starting in his first term, but hasn't followed through. In 2020, for example, he threatened to use the act to quell protests after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police.
“I’m making a direct appeal to the President: Let’s turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are,” Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, said on X.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he would challenge any such action in court. He's already suing to try to stop the surge by the Department of Homeland Security, which says officers have arrested more than 2,500 people since Nov. 29 as part of an immigration operation in the Twin Cities called Metro Surge.
The operation grew when ICE sent 2,000 officers and agents to the area early in January. ICE is a DHS agency.
In Minneapolis, smoke filled the streets Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd. Protesters responded by throwing rocks and shooting fireworks.
Demonstrations have become common in Minneapolis since Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7. Agents who have yanked people from their cars and homes have been confronted by angry bystanders demanding they leave.
“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of three people who said they were questioned or detained in recent days. The lawsuit says two are Somali and one is Hispanic; all three are U.S. citizens. The lawsuit seeks an end to what the ACLU describes as a practice of racial profiling and warrantless arrests. The government did not immediately comment.
Similar lawsuits have been filed in Los Angeles and Chicago and despite seeing initial success, have tended to fizzle in the face of appeal. In Chicago, for example, last year a judge ordered a senior U.S. Border Patrol official to brief her nightly following a lawsuit by news outlets and protesters who said agents used too much force during demonstrations. But three days later, an appeals court stopped the updates.
Homeland Security said in a statement that federal law enforcement officers on Wednesday stopped a driver from Venezuela who is in the U.S. illegally. The person drove off then crashed into a parked car before fleeing on foot, DHS said.
Officers caught up, then two other people arrived and the three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.
“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said. The confrontation took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) from where Good was killed.
Police chief Brian O’Hara said the man who was shot did not have a life-threatening injury. O’Hara's account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security, which later said the other two men were also in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela.
The FBI said several government vehicles were damaged and property inside was stolen when agents responded to the shooting. Photos show broken windows and insults made with paint. A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information. The FBI’s Minneapolis office did not immediately reply to messages seeking more details.
St. Paul Public Schools, with more than 30,000 students, said it would begin offering an online learning option for students who do not feel comfortable coming to school. Schools will be closed next week until Thursday to prepare for those accommodations.
Minneapolis Public Schools, which has a similar enrollment, is also offering temporary remote learning. The University of Minnesota will start a new term next week with different options depending on the class.
Madhani reported from Washington, D.C. and Golden reported from Seattle. Associated Press reporters Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Bill Barrow in Atlanta; Rebecca Santana in Washington; and Ed White in Detroit contributed.
Federal immigration officers confront protesters outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Law enforcement officers at the scene of a reported shooting Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
A woman covers her face from tear gas as federal immigration officers confront protesters outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
A protester throws back a tear gas canister during a protest after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Federal immigration officers confront protesters outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez, second from left, blows a whistle with other activists to warn people of federal immigration officers Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Tear gas surrounds federal law enforcement officers as they leave a scene after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A child and family are escorted away after federal law enforcement deployed tear gas in a neighborhood during protests on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
A protester holds an umbrella as sparks fly from a flash bang deployed by law enforcement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Monica Travis shares an embrace while visiting a makeshift memorial for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A protester yells in front of law enforcement after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Tear gas surrounds federal law enforcement officers as they leave a scene after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Protesters shout at law enforcement officers after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Law enforcement officers stand amid tear gas at the scene of a reported shooting Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
