Dangerous goods air freight is governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, which set out how each of the nine classes must be classified, packed, labelled and documented before an airline will accept it. This guide explains the classes, what changes by mode and what paperwork each shipment needs. TCB Group is an IATA accredited forwarder with offices in Belfast, Liverpool, Dublin and Singapore, moving dangerous goods by air, sea and road, including on a daily consolidated air freight gateway between Manchester and Singapore.
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The Nine Classes in One Table
For dangerous goods air freight, every item falls into one of nine classes, based on its main hazard. The class decides the packaging, labels, documents and quantity limits, and whether the item can fly at all. The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations list each substance by UN number, with its class, packing group and packing instruction.
| Class | What it covers | Common examples | Dangerous goods air freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Explosives | Substances and articles that can explode or burn rapidly | Fireworks, flares, ammunition, airbag inflators | Most are forbidden on passenger aircraft; some divisions fly on cargo aircraft with approval |
| 2 Gases | Compressed, liquefied and dissolved gases, in three divisions | Aerosols, fire extinguishers, gas cylinders, refrigerant gases | Accepted with limits; toxic gases face the tightest restrictions |
| 3 Flammable liquids | Liquids with a flash point of 60°C or below | Perfumes, paints, essential oils, solvents, alcoholic drinks | Accepted with packing and quantity limits |
| 4 Flammable solids | Flammable solids, spontaneously combustible and dangerous-when-wet substances | Matches, metal powders, activated carbon, sodium batteries | Accepted with limits; some items are forbidden |
| 5 Oxidisers and organic peroxides | Substances that release oxygen or are thermally unstable | Hydrogen peroxide, fertilisers, pool chemicals | Many are cargo aircraft only; some need temperature control |
| 6 Toxic and infectious substances | Poisons and substances containing pathogens | Pesticides, diagnostic specimens, medical samples | Accepted with triple packaging for infectious substances |
| 7 Radioactive materials | Materials that emit ionising radiation | Medical isotopes, radiography equipment | Accepted within activity limits and package categories |
| 8 Corrosives | Substances that damage skin and materials | Acids, alkalis, wet batteries, mercury | Accepted with leak-proof packaging |
| 9 Miscellaneous | Hazards not covered by other classes | Lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetised materials | Accepted with specific packing instructions |
Some items are forbidden by air in any circumstances: damaged or defective batteries, certain fireworks and strike-anywhere matches, for example. Others become acceptable only on cargo aircraft, with a “Cargo Aircraft Only” label and routing that uses cargo services throughout.
Hidden Dangerous Goods
Many dangerous goods air freight problems start with items that are not obvious. Batteries inside electronics, perfume in gift sets, fuel residue in camping equipment and aerosols in cosmetics all need to be declared. If you are unsure, the Safety Data Sheet for the product is the place to start: section 14 gives its transport classification.
What Changes Between Air, Sea and Road
The same substance is regulated under different rules on each mode. Dangerous goods air freight is the strictest, because of pressure changes, temperature swings and the risk to crew and passengers. Sea and road usually accept more dangerous goods, in larger quantities, but have their own documentation and segregation rules.
| Air | Sea | Road (UK and Europe) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main rules | IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, based on the ICAO Technical Instructions | IMDG Code | ADR |
| Quantity limits | Tightest, and lower on passenger aircraft than cargo aircraft | Higher than air for most classes | Higher than air for most classes |
| Key document | Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods | Dangerous goods declaration and container packing certificate | ADR transport document |
| Speed | Fastest | Slowest | Suited to Europe and regional moves |
| Extra rules | Airline and country variations | Segregation within the container and on board | Driver training and vehicle equipment |
Airlines and countries add their own rules on top of IATA’s, known as operator and state variations. One airline may refuse a class that another accepts, or set a lower quantity limit, so dangerous goods air freight must be checked against the carrier and the route before booking. Our rail freight service from China does not carry dangerous goods.
Documentation
Correct paperwork is what gets dangerous goods air freight accepted. Missing or incorrect documents can lead an airline to reject a shipment.
The Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods
The Shipper’s Declaration is the legal document that describes the dangerous goods in a consignment. It lists the proper shipping name, UN number, class, packing group, quantity and packaging type for each item, and confirms that the shipment complies with the regulations. The shipper signs it and is legally responsible for its accuracy. It is used for one shipment only.
Safety Data Sheets
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) sets out a product’s hazards in 16 standard sections. Section 14 covers transport information and should match the shipping documents. We ask for the SDS when we quote for dangerous goods air freight, because it is usually the quickest way to confirm the classification.
Packaging Certificates
For dangerous goods air freight, UN specification packaging has been tested for the goods it will carry. The UN mark on the package links to its certification, and the shipper should be able to show that the packaging meets the standard.
Packing and Labelling
Packaging for dangerous goods air freight has to withstand pressure changes, temperature swings and handling. The packing instruction for each UN number sets out the packaging types, the quantity per package and any extra requirements.
UN Specification Packaging
UN specification packaging passes drop, stacking, pressure and leak-proof tests suited to its contents. Combination packaging places inner receptacles inside an outer box, with absorbent material and cushioning to stop leaks and movement. Infectious substances use triple packaging: a primary receptacle, secondary packaging and a rigid outer layer.
Marks and Labels
Each dangerous goods air freight package carries the proper shipping name and UN number, the hazard label for its class and any subsidiary hazards, and the shipper and consignee details. Liquids need orientation arrows, lithium batteries need the battery mark, and shipments above passenger aircraft limits need the “Cargo Aircraft Only” label.
Limited and Excepted Quantities
Limited quantities allow smaller amounts of some dangerous goods to travel as dangerous goods air freight with fewer requirements, though packing and marking rules still apply. Excepted quantities cover very small amounts, such as samples, with stricter per-package limits. Not every substance qualifies for either.
Lithium Batteries and Other Common Cases
These products come up often in dangerous goods air freight.
Lithium Batteries
In dangerous goods air freight, lithium batteries are Class 9, and the rules depend on the chemistry and how they are packed. Lithium ion batteries are rated by watt-hours and lithium metal batteries by lithium content. Batteries shipped on their own, packed with equipment or installed in equipment each have their own packing instruction. Packaging must prevent short circuits and damage, and state of charge limits apply to some shipments. Damaged or recalled batteries cannot fly.
Perfumes, Cosmetics and Essential Oils
Perfumes, aftershaves, nail polish and many essential oils contain enough alcohol or flammable content to be Class 3 flammable liquids, so they travel as dangerous goods air freight. Aerosols are Class 2. Gift sets that combine several products need each item assessed and packed to suit all of them.
Paints and Chemicals
Most solvent-based paints are Class 3, and thinners and cleaners almost always need dangerous goods handling. Pool chemicals and cleaning products often contain oxidisers or corrosives. For bulk liquids and chemicals, ISO tank containers are usually a better fit than packaged air freight.
Medical Supplies and Dry Ice
In dangerous goods air freight, diagnostic specimens and medical samples may be Class 6 infectious substances, and many are shipped with dry ice, which is Class 9. The dry ice weight must be shown on the package, and airlines limit how much they will carry.
How to Ship Dangerous Goods With TCB Group
TCB Group is IATA accredited in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Singapore, with air freight through more than 700 airports and 250 airlines. Our teams handle dangerous goods air freight and sea freight, pack the goods, prepare the documents and check each shipment against the airline’s and destination’s rules before it is booked. We also offer secure storage for dangerous goods in our warehouses.
- Send us the details. Tell us the product, its UN number if you know it, the quantity and packaging, and the origin and destination. Attach the Safety Data Sheet.
- We confirm the classification and route. We check the class, packing instruction and quantity limits, and find a carrier that accepts the dangerous goods air cargo on that route, on passenger or cargo aircraft.
- We pack and document. We pack in UN specification packaging where needed, apply the marks and labels and prepare the Shipper’s Declaration.
- We book and track. We book the shipment, send it on its way and keep you updated to delivery.
Read more about our dangerous goods service, our IATA accredited air freight and our air freight services. For sea shipments, see sea freight services. For storage, see warehousing.
Get a Quote for Dangerous Goods Air Freight
Tell us what you are shipping and where, and attach the Safety Data Sheet. Get an air freight quote or a sea freight quote, call +44 (0) 28 9560 8444 or email sales@tcbgroup.com. In Ireland, call +353 (1) 6917858 or email sales-ie@tcbgroup.com. In Singapore, call +65 6235 7717 or email sales-sg@tcbgroup.com.
Questions About Dangerous Goods Air Freight
Which dangerous goods classes can fly?
Goods from all nine classes can travel as dangerous goods air freight, but not every item in every class. Many explosives and some gases, oxidisers and toxic substances are forbidden on passenger aircraft, and some are forbidden by air altogether. The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations list what each UN number is allowed to do.
What is a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods?
It is the legal document that describes the dangerous goods in an air shipment: proper shipping name, UN number, class, packing group, quantity and packaging. The shipper signs it and is responsible for its accuracy. Airlines will not accept dangerous goods without it.
Can I ship lithium batteries by air?
Yes, lithium batteries travel as dangerous goods air freight in most cases. The rules depend on whether the batteries are lithium ion or lithium metal, their rating, and whether they are shipped alone, with equipment or inside equipment. Damaged or defective batteries cannot fly.
What documents do I need for essential oils?
Most essential oils are Class 3 flammable liquids, so they need a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods by air, along with a Safety Data Sheet and UN specification packaging. Small quantities may qualify as limited quantities, which still need correct packing and marking.
What is Class 9 dangerous goods?
Class 9 covers miscellaneous dangerous goods whose hazards do not fit the other classes. Lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetised materials and environmentally hazardous substances are the most common examples.
What does dangerous goods shipping cost?
The cost of dangerous goods air freight depends on the class, quantity and packaging, the mode and route, and whether the goods need cargo aircraft. Airlines often add a dangerous goods handling charge, and specialist packing adds to it. Send us the Safety Data Sheet and the shipment details and we will quote the full cost.