Air freight for lithium batteries
Faster transit with stricter packing, labelling, and often State of Charge requirements — especially for batteries shipped alone.
What to expect
Air carriage of lithium batteries follows IATA Dangerous Goods rules as applied by each airline. Acceptance is never automatic: cargo type (alone vs in/with equipment), Watt-hour rating, packing instruction, and route all matter.
Standalone lithium-ion (often UN3480)
- State of Charge (SoC): For many standalone Li-ion air shipments, carriers apply SoC limits — commonly discussed as ≤30% where the applicable packing instruction requires it. Confirm for your exact type.
- Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO): Some configurations may only be accepted on cargo aircraft, not passenger aircraft.
- Labels & marks: Class 9 and lithium battery marks/labels must match the packing instruction; incomplete labelling is a frequent rejection reason.
Contained in / packed with equipment (often UN3481)
Rules differ from batteries alone. Device packing, spare battery counts, and protection against activation/short circuit are common review points. We help you map your case before proposing air.
Lithium-metal briefly
Lithium-metal cells/batteries follow different UN numbers and often tighter air restrictions than lithium-ion. Tell us early if your cargo is lithium-metal.
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Air-planning checkpoints
What changes by battery configuration.
The table is an orientation tool only. The current IATA DGR, applicable packing instruction and operator variations control the final setup.
| Configuration | Common Li-ion direction | Typical focus | 2026 SoC note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batteries alone | UN 3480 / PI 965 | Cargo Aircraft Only, package limits, battery net weight, labels and declaration | 30% maximum is a core requirement for routine standalone Li-ion air shipments |
| Packed with equipment | UN 3481 / PI 966 | Battery-to-equipment match, inner packing, quantity and package performance | From 1 Jan 2026, Section I batteries and Section II batteries above 2.7 Wh are subject to the 30% limit, absent the applicable approval path |
| Contained in equipment | UN 3481 / PI 967 | Activation protection, device protection, quantity and package integrity | Reduced SoC is strongly recommended in IATA guidance, but not stated as the same blanket mandate |
Avoidable rework
What commonly stops an air plan from moving forward.
- Battery model is not clearly covered by the test summary
- Watt-hours, quantity or configuration are missing
- Power banks are described as ordinary equipment
- Packed-with and contained-in configurations are mixed up
- SoC evidence does not match the applicable requirement
- Damaged, defective or recalled status is not disclosed
- Labels, marks or declarations do not match the actual contents
Cargo screening
Battery configuration and condition for air
Cargo screening
How is the battery presented, and in what condition?
- Cells or batteries alonePacks, cells or spares shipped without equipment.UN 3480 (lithium-ion) · UN 3090 (lithium metal)Cargo guide
- Packed with equipmentBattery and the device it powers in the same outer package, not installed.UN 3481 · UN 3091 (packed with equipment)Cargo guide
- Contained in equipmentBattery installed in the device, e.g. tools, instruments, e-mobility parts.UN 3481 · UN 3091 (contained in equipment)Cargo guide
Condition screening
- New, testedStandard review of test summary, SDS and packing.
- Returned or usedScreened for damage, defects and missing test data before anything is offered.
- Damaged, defective or recalledSeparate special provisions; many carriers decline. Reviewed case by case.
Need to know whether air is realistic?
Send the battery model, configuration, Watt-hours, State of Charge, route and documents available.
Request an air review