On July 22, the world celebrates National Mango Day. American Airlines Cargo shares record volumes of mango shipments as it marks the halfway point in a multi-month project for the carrier to transport high volumes of fresh mangoes this summer. The mangoes began first transiting in late May and will continue to move through the end of August, with volumes peaking from mid-July to mid-August.
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Originating in Pakistan, the mangoes travel on American’s interline partner to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) where they are trucked to a treatment plant for washing and then on to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).
Out of MSY, American utilizes its vast domestic network and narrowbody fleet to connect the mangoes across the US via hubs Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
The mangoes are bundled together by colour and taste: Red is sweet, Blue are semi-sweet, and Yellow are tart. So far, the carrier has moved more than 50,000 lbs. of mangoes, with estimated volumes surpassing 125,000 lbs. by the end of August. This is the first project of this scale to come out of America’s cargo operations in MSY.
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American have extensive experience transporting fresh fruits and perishable goods like mangoes for many years. The carrier offers container handling systems and refrigeration coolers at key hubs, as well as transit guidelines and packaging requirements that ensure perishables stay fresh on their journey.
