Certification obtained for lithium battery air transport

Industry

Published: 30 May. 2023, 18:24 Updated: 30 May. 2023, 19:45

Certification obtained for lithium battery air transport

Officials from the Incheon Airport Community, including Acting President of the Incheon International Airport Corporation Lee Hee-Jeong, fifth from left, and IATA Regional Vice President Asia Pacific Phillip Goh, sixth from left, attending the IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries Certification award ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Incheon last Thursday. [INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CORPORATION]

Korean airlines and logistics companies obtained international certification for the air transportation of lithium batteries primarily used in electric vehicles (EVs) to bolster their footing in the cargo segment.

A total of 11 domestic companies, including airlines with cargo business such as Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and Jeju Air, as well as logistics companies Hyundai Glovis and LX Pantos, announced Tuesday that they have received the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Lithium Batteries certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Introduced in 2021, the CEIV Lithium Batteries certification is a globally recognized standard established by IATA to measure quality and reliability in the air transportation of lithium batteries. It involves a comprehensive evaluation of various aspects of the transportation process and procedures, based on a set of standardized audit criteria comprising of more than 240 items. This evaluation ensures that the certified organizations meet the stringent standards set forth by the program.

Lithium batteries are classified as dangerous goods for transportation due to the risks they pose, including heat generation, sparks and fires. High-profile incidents include crashes of an Asiana Cargo plane in 2011 and a UPS cargo plane in 2010, which both resulted from fires caused by lithium batteries. Lithium batteries are classified as Class 9 hazardous materials under UN regulations, requiring thorough testing and compliance with specific criteria.

In recent years, the utilization of lithium batteries has significantly expanded across a wide range of electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets and EVs, subsequently raising the demand for air cargo services.

The companies believe that the acquisition of the certification could boost appeal for their cargo service dealing in EV batteries.

Korean Air reports that more than 10 percent of its transported air cargo account for lithium-ion batteries, and this percentage is growing. With the increasing volume of shipments, ensuring the safety of transportation becomes increasingly crucial.

Jeju Air, the sole low-cost carrier in Korea operating cargo operations, transports these products to Tokyo, Yantai and Hanoi.

Logistics companies are now planning to strengthen their specialized transportation operations to meet the growing demand for secondary batteries.

Their focus is particularly on providing specialized air transport services in the rapidly expanding EV battery market.

According to market research firm SNE Research, the global battery market is projected to grow eightfold over the next decade, from $46.1 billion in 2020 to $351.7 billion in 2030, primarily driven by the widespread adoption of EVs.

"The acquisition of the CEIV Lithium Battery certification proves that a company has established a strict management system in line with international standards for handling hazardous lithium battery cargo throughout the entire process and has secured expertise," said an LX Pantos official. "We believe this certification will enhance our credibility in the global air cargo market, provide momentum for capturing the EV and battery logistics market, and contribute to our business expansion."

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]