Dangerous Goods (DGR) Air Freight — IATA Compliant and Certified
Shipping dangerous goods by air freight is subject to strict IATA and ICAO regulations. Lithium batteries, chemicals, aerosols, perfumes, gases, fuels, and magnetic materials require specific packaging, labeling, and documentation. We handle the entire process under our IATA accreditation.
Dangerous goods — referred to in air freight as Dangerous Goods or DGR — are items or substances that may pose a risk to people, the environment, aircraft, or crew. Think of lithium batteries, flammable liquids, oxidizing substances, infectious materials, or radioactive isotopes. Their air transport is regulated by ICAO's Technical Instructions and the annually updated IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), the global standard.
Shippers and freight forwarders must meet strict requirements in classification, packaging, labeling, documentation, and training. One mistake on the Shipper's Declaration or in the UN numbering can lead to airline refusal, resulting in delays and extra costs. Aircargo.nl employs certified DGR staff, holds IATA accreditation, and maintains direct contacts with airlines to ensure your DGR shipment boards without delay.
The Nine IATA Hazard Classes
- Class 1Explosives — fireworks, ammunition, detonators
- Class 2Gases — flammable, non-flammable, toxic (such as butane, helium, nitrous oxide)
- Class 3Flammable liquids — ethanol, perfumes, acetone, some paints
- Class 4Flammable solids, self-heating substances, substances which emit flammable gases when in contact with water
- Class 5Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides — such as hydrogen peroxide
- Class 6Toxic and infectious substances — including diagnostic specimens and biological cultures
- Class 7Radioactive materials — requires additional training and separate permits
- Class 8Corrosive substances — acids, bases, mercury
- Class 9Miscellaneous dangerous substances — lithium batteries (UN3480/3481/3090/3091), magnetic material, dry ice
Starting in 2026 (67th edition of the IATA DGR), important updates apply to lithium batteries. State of Charge (SoC) rules will be stricter, also for sodium-ion batteries. PI965 applies to stand-alone lithium-ion batteries under UN3480, while PI966 and PI967 apply to batteries installed in equipment. We are trained on this update and apply it to your shipment.
What We Handle for Your DGR Shipment
- Classification According to IATA DGRWe determine the applicable class, UN number, and packing group based on your Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or MSDS.
- Preparing the Dangerous Goods DeclarationWe prepare the Shipper's Declaration (DGD) in duplicate, including UN number, technical name, quantity, packaging instruction, and additional hazards.
- Verification of Packaging and LabelingWe check whether your packaging complies with the relevant Packing Instruction (PI). If necessary, we assist with repackaging according to UN standards.
- Coordinating PAX vs CAO BookingWe take into account State Variations (per country) and Operator Variations (per airline). Some substances are allowed only on cargo aircraft (CAO), not on passenger flights (PAX).
- Direct Booking with AirlinesThanks to our IATA accreditation, we can book DGR shipments directly with airlines without intermediaries.
- Integration with Customs HandlingDGR shipments require specific customs procedures, export controls, and (for chemicals) checks on REACH and sanction countries. We integrate this with the export declaration.
Common DGR Products in Our Practice
We process DGR shipments daily for a wide range of industries. Lithium batteries for electronics and e-mobility (UN3480, UN3481), perfumes and cosmetics containing alcohol (UN1170, UN1266), dry ice for temperature-sensitive shipments (UN1845), magnetic materials in speakers or motors, diagnostic specimens for laboratories (UN3373), and aerosols under pressure (UN1950). Each product type requires a specific combination of packaging regulation, labeling, and handling procedure.
State Variations and Operator Variations
The IATA DGR is the global baseline, but individual countries may impose stricter rules (State Variations) and individual airlines may impose additional restrictions (Operator Variations). A battery shipment accepted by KLM might be rejected by an Asian carrier. We pre-check the combination of destination, airline, and substance so your booking doesn’t fall through last minute.
Training and Certification
Every employee who prepares or accepts DGR shipments must hold a valid certification according to IATA DGR Section 1.5, with a mandatory refresher every 24 months. Our DGR specialists are certified in relevant categories 1, 3, and 6 (shippers, forwarders, acceptors).
Frequently Asked Questions About Dangerous Goods
Are lithium batteries allowed on passenger flights?
Yes. Lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries fall under Class 9 (UN3480, UN3481, UN3090, UN3091). Whether they are allowed on passenger flights (PAX) or cargo only (CAO) depends on capacity (Wh or grams of lithium content), if the battery is stand-alone or installed in equipment, and the exact airline. We verify this and ensure proper packaging and documentation.
What is a DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration)?
The DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration), also called the Shipper's Declaration, is the English-language form where the shipper declares which dangerous substances are in the shipment — including UN number, technical name, class, packing group, quantity, and packaging instruction. It is mandatory for all fully regulated DGR shipments and must accompany the shipment in duplicate.
What is an SDS and why do you need it?
An SDS (Safety Data Sheet) or MSDS contains the chemical and safety information of your product. We use it to determine classification, UN number, and packing group. If in doubt, we refer you back to your manufacturer or supplier for additional clarification.
Can damaged or defective lithium batteries be shipped by air freight?
Limited. Damaged or defective batteries are generally not allowed by air freight. Specific exceptions require a separate packaging instruction (PI908 or LP904) and prior approval from the aviation authority. In most cases, we recommend transport by road or sea.
What are the risks of an incorrect DGR declaration?
Non-compliance risks refusal by the airline (shipment not accepted), fines (which can reach tens of thousands of dollars), and in severe cases, criminal prosecution. Moreover, there is a safety risk: fire or explosion during transport has caused aviation incidents.
DGR Shipment Ready?
Send your SDS and shipment details; we will respond within 4 hours whether and how we can ship it, including a fixed price.