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Air transport of Dangerous Goods (DGR)
March 3, 2026Dangerous Goods air cargo — what is allowed and what is not
Air transport of dangerous goods leaves no room for improvisation. Shipments can be fast and safe — but only when fully compliant with aviation regulations: ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).
If you import or export cargo classified as DG (Dangerous Goods), this article explains the fundamentals: which materials can be transported by air, what the limitations are, and what most often causes delays or additional charges.
What are Dangerous Goods in air transport?
In aviation, we refer to Dangerous Goods as substances or articles that may pose a risk to the aircraft, crew, passengers, or the environment. Importantly, air transport regulations are generally far more restrictive than road (ADR) or sea (IMDG) regulations.
Classes of Dangerous Goods in air cargo (IATA / ICAO)
- Class 1 — Explosives
- Class 2 — Gases (flammable, non-flammable, toxic)
- Class 3 — Flammable liquids (e.g. solvents, paints)
- Class 4 — Flammable solids / spontaneously combustible / dangerous when wet
- Class 5 — Oxidising substances and organic peroxides
- Class 6 — Toxic and infectious substances
- Class 7 — Radioactive material
- Class 8 — Corrosives (acids, alkalis)
- Class 9 — Miscellaneous dangerous goods (e.g. lithium batteries, magnets, environmentally hazardous substances)
In practice, every shipment must have a correct UN number, proper shipping name, and class/division in accordance with the IATA DGR list.
What Dangerous Goods can be transported by air?
Much more than most people expect — but almost always with restrictions related to quantity, packaging, and aircraft type (passenger vs cargo-only).
Typical DG examples permitted in air cargo include:
- paints, varnishes, solvents (Class 3),
- technical aerosols (Class 2),
- industrial and laboratory chemicals (Classes 3 / 6 / 8 / 9),
- lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries (Class 9) — subject to state-of-charge limits and IATA Packing Instructions,
- equipment containing batteries (electronics, medical, automotive),
- dry ice (UN1845) used as shipment coolant,
- biological / diagnostic samples (Class 6.2) — under defined regimes,
- selected radioactive materials for medical or industrial use (Class 7) — only under very specific conditions.
Important: Airlines may refuse carriage of a fully compliant shipment under so-called operator variations. For this reason, transport acceptance must always be confirmed prior to customs clearance.
What is NOT allowed in air transport?
The list is short — but strict. Certain DG are prohibited on passenger aircraft and sometimes even on cargo aircraft.
Most common prohibitions and restrictions include:
- certain explosive materials (Class 1) — only selected divisions permitted, often cargo-only,
- highly reactive or unstable substances (some Classes 4 and 5),
- high-risk infectious substances (parts of Class 6.2),
- selected highly toxic chemicals with severe inhalation hazards (parts of Class 6.1),
- damaged, defective, recalled, or waste lithium batteries — generally not accepted in aviation,
- goods that fail packaging or labelling requirements — even if the substance itself is permitted.
Most common causes of delays and surcharges in DG air freight
Incorrect DG classification
Wrong UN number, incorrect class, or missing subclass.
Improper packaging
In air transport, packaging must be certified in accordance with the specific IATA Packing Instruction.
Missing or incorrect Shipper’s Declaration (DGD)
The Dangerous Goods Declaration is mandatory for most DG shipments.
Incorrect marking and labelling
Missing IATA labels, illegible UN numbers, or absence of “Cargo Aircraft Only” marking when required.
Lithium batteries not meeting limits
For example, state-of-charge exceeding permitted limits or missing correct PI and marking. From 2026, certain SoC limits for batteries contained in equipment become mandatory — preparation should start now.
How a compliant DG air shipment works — step by step
Identification and classification
UN number, proper shipping name, class/division, packing group.
Packaging selection per IATA Packing Instructions
Permitted quantities per package, packaging type, and test requirements.
Marking and labelling
Class label, UN number, and additional markings (e.g. lithium battery mark).
Documentation
- Shipper’s Declaration (DGD),
- AWB with correct DG entries,
- commercial invoice, packing list, HS code,
- additional permits or certificates, if required.
Carrier booking
Confirmation whether the shipment is accepted on passenger aircraft or cargo-only and applicable limits.
Airport handling and security screening
DG follows a separate handling process — everything must be prepared in advance.
DG imports from China — key points to watch
When shipping Dangerous Goods by air from China, the most common pitfalls include:
- different DG classification interpretations by the shipper,
- missing or incorrect HS codes causing customs clearance delays,
- undeclared lithium batteries added to shipments,
- packing lists lacking precise substance descriptions,
- discrepancies between the DGD and the actual package contents.
Need to ship Dangerous Goods by air?
If you are planning air transport of Dangerous Goods, contact us before customs clearance. We will verify:
- whether your cargo is accepted for air transport,
- the correct UN / IATA classification,
- required packaging and documentation,
- whether the shipment can move on passenger aircraft or cargo-only.
We will prepare a free DG shipment analysis and recommend the most appropriate routing solution.
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