Korean Air gains IATA CEIV battery certificate
30 / 05 / 2023
Suh Junwon, Korean Air managing vice president of Cargo business division (left) and Philip Goh, IATA regional vice president for Asia-Pacific. Photo: Korean Air
Korean Air has gained IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Lithium Batteries certification.
In December last year, Korean Air joined a working group led by Incheon International Airport Corporation, along with stakeholders including forwarders and other operators in the domestic air cargo sector, to prepare for the certification.
All stakeholders in the working group were successfully certified in the first half of 2023.
Korean Air applies specific handling standards and procedures depending on the type and capacity of the battery and, when necessary, may also apply its own, more rigorous proprietary procedures.
Lithium batteries account for more than 10% of the airline’s total air cargo volume, and this is projected to grow in line with consumer demand for smartphones, handheld electronic devices and electric vehicles.
Introduced in 2021, the certification establishes and validates baseline standards with experts carrying out an in-depth evaluation of all aspects of the transportation process and procedures.
These are based on over 240 standard audit criteria to ensure organisations meet the programme’s standards.
The aim is to improve competency and quality management in the handling and transport of lithium battery shipments throughout the supply chain.
Lithium batteries have become the preferred energy source for consumer goods, but many are not aware that they are dangerous goods that can pose a safety risk.
IATA is concerned by the increasing number of intentionally mis-declared and non-compliant lithium batteries in cargo shipments, and devised the certification to ensure security of the supply chain.
