IATA introduces digital system for dangerous cargo forms

Global aviation authorities have begun rolling out a new digital platform designed to eliminate paper documentation for hazardous air cargo shipments, a move aimed at improving safety and efficiency across the air freight industry.

The International Air Transport Association has launched DG Digital, a technology integrated into its DG AutoCheck compliance platform that enables shippers, airlines and logistics companies to create and approve Dangerous Goods Declarations electronically. The system replaces manual documentation procedures for more than 3,800 regulated items transported by air, including lithium batteries, explosives and chemical substances.

Air cargo operators have long relied on paper forms to declare hazardous materials carried on aircraft. According to industry data, about 95 per cent of dangerous goods declarations are still submitted as paper documents, requiring them to be scanned, converted into PDF files and uploaded to digital systems before validation can occur. This multi-step process introduces delays and increases the risk of documentation errors that can lead to rejected shipments or compliance issues.

DG Digital seeks to replace that workflow with a fully electronic process from the moment a declaration is created by the shipper. The platform allows users to generate declarations digitally and transmit them across the supply chain, enabling airlines, freight forwarders and ground handlers to review the same document simultaneously. The structured data format also allows the system to automatically check entries against global dangerous goods regulations, flagging missing or incorrect information before a shipment reaches the airport.

Frederic Leger, senior vice president for product and services at the association, said the new platform is intended to reduce complexity in handling hazardous cargo while improving operational safety. By digitising the declaration process, he noted, every stakeholder involved in the transport chain can access the same verified documentation, allowing issues to be resolved before cargo is loaded onto an aircraft.

The introduction of the tool follows a pilot programme conducted in Japan involving airlines such as All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines along with several freight forwarders. During those trials, digital validation helped cut the rejection rate of dangerous goods shipments to about 0.5 per cent, compared with a global average of roughly 4.5 per cent under traditional documentation processes.

Growth in shipments containing hazardous materials has intensified the need for more reliable documentation systems. Industry statistics show that the volume of dangerous goods transported by air rose by about 17.5 per cent in 2025, largely driven by increasing demand for lithium batteries used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

Airlines and logistics firms handle millions of consignments containing regulated materials each year, ranging from pharmaceutical chemicals to industrial gases. Even minor errors in paperwork can cause delays, fines or safety concerns, as aircraft operators must ensure that dangerous goods are packed, labelled and segregated according to international aviation standards.

DG Digital builds on the existing DG AutoCheck platform, a rules-based system launched in 2019 to help airlines validate dangerous goods shipments. Since its introduction, the platform has completed more than one million compliance checks, with usage accelerating as carriers seek to automate cargo acceptance procedures.

Under the new framework, data captured through DG Digital flows directly into the validation engine of DG AutoCheck, which compares shipment details with regulatory requirements and airline-specific rules. This automated cross-referencing replaces the manual practice of checking declarations against lengthy regulatory manuals, a process that has historically required significant time and specialist expertise.

The broader aviation sector has been under pressure to modernise cargo documentation as e-commerce and high-value electronics shipments expand. Lithium batteries, which power smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles, have become one of the most commonly transported hazardous items in global air freight networks. Their rapid growth has increased the importance of strict compliance with packaging and declaration rules designed to prevent fires or other incidents during flight.

Digitalisation initiatives have gained momentum across the industry as airlines and regulators push for standardised data exchange. The association has also been promoting other data-sharing frameworks intended to replace fragmented cargo information systems with unified digital standards that allow logistics partners to communicate more efficiently.

Experts say the transition away from paper documentation could significantly streamline cargo operations at busy airports, where ground handlers often process large volumes of shipments under tight departure schedules. Electronic declarations enable earlier validation of compliance data, allowing problems to be addressed before cargo arrives at airport terminals.

Logistics companies and freight forwarders are expected to play a crucial role in adopting the new system, as they prepare shipment documentation on behalf of manufacturers and exporters. Digital declarations also create a permanent electronic record of hazardous cargo movements, which regulators can analyse to identify trends in compliance and risk management.