By Rafiq Vayani
GENEVA: 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.
Highlights of revisions include:
Dangerous Good Regulations (DGR)
- Instructions to improve clarity on DGR packaging requirements
- Restrictions and requirements for spare batteries and power banks
- Requirements for lithium battery-powered mobility aids including new operator obligations for devices exceeding 300Wh
- Updates to State and Operator Variations, including new variations from 17 states
Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR)
- Introduction of provisions for hybrid batteries containing both lithium-ion and sodium-ion cells
- Revisions to packing instructions, particularly related to sodium-ion and prototype batteries
- Clarification on exclusions from the 4-cell/2-battery limit for certain battery shipments
- New requirement for battery marks to be displayed on the same package surface as other applicable hazard labels
Live Animals Regulations (LAR)
- Additions of specific pathogen-free laboratory animals to species listings
- Standardized terminology and metric measurement across container requirements
- Updated aircraft cargo compartment cleaning and disinfection procedures
- Availability of a Portuguese version following Brazil’s adoption of LAR
Airport Handling Manual (AHM)
- New guidance for biometric handling in contactless travel, covering touchpoint processes and privacy/ethical considerations
- Advanced provisions for autonomous ground service equipment activities near aircraft
Digital Tools
Enhanced digital tools—which will increasingly leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI)—are linking IATA’s manuals more efficiently to the industry processes that they support, an important advancement as aviation continues its transition to more connected, automated and data-driven operations. This also helps embed IATA standards into decision making and live operational environments.
This includes:
- LAR Verify, automated compliance verification tool for live animal shipments
- e-Battery Shipping Regulations (e-BSR) introduces new Interactive Classification Scenarios
- DG Digital, a module of DG Autocheck, to create and manage Shipper’s Declarations for Dangerous Goods (DGD)
- DGR includes enhancements to the digital version, improving navigation and access to dangerous goods information
- Digital Load Verification (DLV) to verify aircraft loading activities, reducing loading errors by more than 80% and loading-related delays by up to 30%
“Our 2027 manual revisions reflect advancements in technology, regulation, and customer needs. As our manuals are used in a more digitally connected environment, we are focusing on creating tools that integrate them into the critical processes and activities that underpin cargo and ground operations. This is a major step toward advancing safer, more efficient airline operations, and is soon to be super-charged by the power of AI,” said Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Products and Services.