IATA Releases 2024 Cargo, Ground Handling Manuals

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has completed and released the annual revision of its industry manuals for cargo and ground handling operations, incorporating the latest changes and revisions made to many of the underlying industry standards, as well as any State and operator variations.

These, according to the global body, reflect the sector’s ongoing commitment to further improving safety, introducing more sustainable operations, as well as enhancing the passenger experience and cargo handling.

It stated that in total, more than 300 changes have been made, including updated guidance on the transport of mobility devices, particularly when powered by lithium and other batteries

The safe transportation of mobility aids requires special care and attention, while the additional challenges posed by the transportation of lithium or other batteries required for some of these mobility aids must also be considered.

Hence, the guidance for the carriage of dangerous goods by passengers or crew has been updated, in order to improve the end-to-end transportation process for mobility aids.

The amendments, IATA said, are reflected in the latest editions of the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR) and support the industry’s commitment to travelers with disabilities made at the IATA Annual General Meeting in 2019.

IATA stated that for over 50 years the IATA LAR has served as an indispensable resource, guaranteeing the safe worldwide transport by air of a wide variety of species.