Shipping Dangerous Goods by Air: Packing, Labels and Documents Under IATA DGR
Air rules for dangerous goods are stricter than sea rules and change every year. Here is how a DG air shipment is prepared, step by step.
Dangerous goods can fly, but the rules are tighter than for sea freight. Quantities per package are smaller, some substances are banned on passenger aircraft, and some are banned from air transport altogether. The rules come from the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), which IATA publishes in a new edition every year, effective 1 January. In the UAE, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is the authority for dangerous goods by air.
Step 1: Classify the goods
Everything starts with the UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group. These come from the SDS, which should be current. Then check the DGR list of dangerous goods for that entry. It tells you whether the item can go on a passenger aircraft, only on a cargo aircraft, or not by air at all, and the maximum quantity per package for each.
Step 2: Choose the right packaging
Most DG by air must be in UN-specification packaging that matches the packing instruction in the DGR. Inner packaging, absorbent material and closures matter for liquids, because pressure changes during flight can force leaks. Limited quantities and excepted quantities have their own simplified rules, but they still have limits and marks.
Step 3: Mark and label each package
Each package needs the UN number, proper shipping name, the shipper's and consignee's details, and the hazard labels for the main and any subsidiary hazard. If the quantity is only allowed on freighters, the package also needs the "Cargo Aircraft Only" label. Orientation arrows are needed for liquids in combination packaging.
Step 4: Prepare the Shipper's Declaration
The Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods is signed by the shipper, who is legally responsible for it. The air waybill must also show that the shipment contains DG. Mistakes in the declaration are a frequent cause of refusal at acceptance, so check every field against the package.
Lithium batteries need extra care
Lithium batteries are the most common DG by air and the most restricted. Lithium ion batteries shipped on their own (UN 3480) are forbidden on passenger aircraft and must be at a state of charge not exceeding 30%. Batteries packed with or contained in equipment have their own entries and packing instructions. Check the current DGR edition, because battery rules change often.
Why DG air shipments get refused
- Old SDS or a classification that does not match the DGR entry
- Quantity per package above the limit for the aircraft type
- Packaging without the UN mark or not matching the packing instruction
- Missing subsidiary hazard label or "Cargo Aircraft Only" label
- Errors or missing signature on the Shipper's Declaration
- Airline variations: some airlines refuse certain classes even when the DGR allows them
When sea or sea-air makes more sense
If the quantity is above air limits, or the item is forbidden by air, sea freight is often the answer. For urgent cargo, a sea-air routing through Dubai can work, but the DG documents must be converted from IMDG to IATA format for the air leg. Our guide to multimodal DG transport in Dubai explains how that works.
This is a general guide. The current DGR edition, airline variations and the carrier's acceptance check decide what can fly.
Preparing a DG shipment and unsure whether air, sea or sea-air fits? Send the SDS, UN number, quantity and destination to ANIL DARYA through our freight rate inquiry or WhatsApp. See also our dangerous goods shipping service.