IATA’s 2026 Lithium Battery Guidance reflects the rapid growth of air shipments, with lithium batteries transported by air cargo rising 25% year-on-year and close to 100 major updates introduced across the 2026 manuals. From 1 January 2026, lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment must generally be shipped at no more than 30% state of charge, making compliance and expert freight...

IATA’s 2026 Lithium Battery Guidance reflects the rapid growth of air shipments, with lithium batteries transported by air cargo rising 25% year-on-year and close to 100 major updates introduced across the 2026 manuals. From 1 January 2026, lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment must generally be shipped at no more than 30% state of charge, making compliance and expert freight...

The global demand for lithium batteries continues to grow as they power smartphones, laptops, medical devices, power tools, drones, and electric vehicles. While these batteries are essential for modern technology, they also present unique safety challenges during air transportation. Because lithium batteries can overheat, catch fire, or enter thermal runaway if damaged or improperly packaged,...