IATA Releases 2027 Cargo and Ground Operations Manuals
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the updated 2027 editions of key industry manuals for cargo and ground operations, which incorporate major changes and revisions to align with evolving global standards.
Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)
- Clearer instructions for packaging requirements.
- New restrictions for spare batteries and power banks.
- Operator obligations for lithium battery mobility aids exceeding 300Wh.
- Updates to State and Operator Variations, including 17 new state variations.
Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR)
- Provisions for hybrid batteries with lithium-ion and sodium-ion cells.
- Revised packing instructions for sodium-ion and prototype batteries.
- Clarification on exclusions from the 4-cell/2-battery limit.
- New requirement: battery marks must be on the same package surface as hazard labels.
Live Animals Regulations (LAR)
- Addition of pathogen-free lab animals to species listings.
- Standardized terminology and metric measurements for containers.
- Updated cleaning/disinfection procedures for aircraft cargo compartments.
- Portuguese version introduced following Brazil’s adoption of LAR.
Airport Handling Manual (AHM)
- Guidance for biometric handling in contactless travel, including privacy/ethics.
- Provisions for autonomous ground service equipment near aircraft.
Digital Tools Integration
- LAR Verify: Automated compliance for live animal shipments.
- e-BSR: Interactive classification scenarios for batteries.
- DG Digital: Module to manage Shipper’s Declarations for Dangerous Goods.
- Enhanced DGR digital version: Improved navigation and access.
- Digital Load Verification (DLV): Reduces loading errors by 80% and delays by 30%.
IATA’s statement:
These revisions reflect advancements in technology, regulation, and customer needs, with AI soon to play a bigger role in embedding standards into live operations.
