UAE's dnata Earns IATA CEIV Accreditation For Lithium Battery Handling

UAE-based air services provider dnata has been awarded the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) accreditation for safely handling lithium batteries at 11 stations worldwide, a statement showed on Tuesday.

Lithium battery certification

• Dnata started its journey with IATA’s CEIV lithium battery program in April 2023. In less than 12 months, it became the first ground services provider to certify 11 of its worldwide stations.
• The statement said dnata's stations in Australia and Pakistan were the first to complete the assessment phase, followed by Singapore, Belgium, the UK, and the UAE.
• This certification underscores the company's commitment to adhering to stringent safety standards and regulatory protocols in handling potentially hazardous materials, added the statement.
• "This recognition underscores our ongoing efforts to maintain the highest standards in the handling of dangerous goods, ensuring the safety of our operations and the satisfaction of our customers," Guillaume Crozier, dnata’s senior vice president, UAE Cargo and Global Cargo Strategy, said in the statement.
• The IATA certification ceremony for the stations took place at the World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong.

Crucial quote

“The volume of air shipments containing lithium batteries is rising. Ensuring these items are transported safely and efficiently is a top priority for the industry," said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s global head of cargo, in the statement.

Surprising fact

The maximum net quantity of lithium batteries or cells per package is 5 kilograms for Passenger and Cargo Aircraft and 35 kilograms for Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO) shipments, according to DHL.

Safety standards

In recent years, dnata has invested in training and process improvements to bolster safety and enhance efficiency in handling dangerous goods.

In 2021, it became the first global air services provider to adopt IATA’s Dangerous Goods Autocheck (DG Autocheck) platform for accepting dangerous goods shipments.

Additionally, in December 2023, dnata achieved IATA’s Corporate Certification for competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) for Dangerous Goods.

Established in 1959, dnata is a leading global air and travel services provider, offering ground handling, cargo, travel, catering, and retail services across over 30 countries from six continents.

Big numbers

In the financial year 2022-2023 ending March 31, 2023, dnata’s teams handled over 710,000 aircraft turns, moved over 2.7 million tons of cargo, uplifted 111.4 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of $1.9 billion, the company noted.