IATA Unveils 2026 Cargo and Ground Operations Manuals with 100 Key Updates

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the 2026 editions of its key operational manuals—including the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR), Live Animals Regulations (LAR), and Ground Operations Manual (IGOM)—introducing nearly 100 major revisions to align the global aviation industry with evolving safety, regulatory, and technological standards.

These updates, effective from January 2026, reflect IATA's continued efforts to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable air transport operations, as the industry adapts to emerging risks, technological advancements, and new regulatory frameworks across multiple domains—from battery safety and animal transport to digitalization and passenger handling.

Responding to Industry Evolution

"Global standards have made flying safe and reliable. For eight decades, IATA's member airlines have worked with regulators and industry partners to create best practices critical to daily operations," said Frédéric Léger, IATA's Senior Vice President of Products and Services. "The 2026 updates reflect the rapid pace of technological change, regulatory evolution, and customer needs, ensuring that the industry continues to operate safely and efficiently while advancing sustainability."

The manuals—widely regarded as the global reference for air cargo and ground handling operations—are updated annually in consultation with airlines, regulators, and logistics stakeholders. The 2026 editions incorporate substantial new content related to battery safety, animal welfare, and digital compliance tools, underscoring IATA's proactive approach to risk management and modernization.

Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR)

Battery-related changes dominate the 2026 updates, driven by the 25% year-on-year surge in the transport of lithium batteries as air cargo. This increase, coupled with several incidents involving overheating power banks and other portable electronics, prompted IATA to strengthen requirements for battery packaging, handling, and transport documentation.

The 2026 DGR introduces:

• Formalized shipping names for hybrid-powered vehicles, acknowledging the growing use of dual-chemistry and hybrid batteries in electric and hybrid vehicles.

• Passenger guidance on the carriage and use of power banks and spare batteries, aimed at reducing cabin fire risks.

• Updated operator variations for Thailand, France, and the United Kingdom, ensuring consistency across jurisdictions.

• Standardized text for 290 existing operator variations, reducing interpretation differences.

• Expanded guidance on safety data sheets (SDS) for certain dangerous goods categories.

• New Appendix H, which previews regulatory and procedural changes expected in the 2027 edition.

For the Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR), the 2026 edition introduces:

• Stricter charge limits for lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment, lowering the risk of thermal runaway.

• A new shipper compliance checklist, enabling exporters to verify adherence to packaging and labeling standards before shipment.

• Additional Designated Postal Operators (DPOs) authorized to accept items containing lithium batteries.

• Updates to accommodate emerging battery chemistries, including sodium-ion and hybrid metal systems, which are becoming more common in consumer and industrial electronics.

These updates reflect the growing complexity of the global battery logistics chain and the need for continuous alignment with international standards to mitigate transport risks.

Live Animals Regulations (LAR)

IATA's Live Animals Regulations (LAR)—the global standard for the humane and safe air transport of animals—has undergone one of its most comprehensive revisions in recent years. With more than 200,000 non-domestic animal shipments recorded in 2024, IATA emphasized the importance of animal welfare, safety, and regulatory compliance throughout the supply chain.

Key updates in the 2026 LAR include:

• Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) guidelines for animal attendants, covering pre-flight preparation, in-transit monitoring, and emergency response.

• Brazil's formal adoption of the LAR in 2025, expanding global adherence to the standard.

• Updated material and ventilation specifications for animal transport containers to improve air circulation and temperature control.

• New guidelines for specific species, including poultry, pangolins, hooded raptors, and birds of prey, to reflect improved scientific understanding and welfare practices.

These revisions aim to ensure consistent welfare standards for all live animal shipments while supporting the traceability, documentation, and training systems required by airlines and logistics providers.

IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM)

The 2026 edition of the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) features wide-ranging enhancements to passenger, baggage, and aircraft handling procedures, emphasizing safety, operational efficiency, and inclusivity.

Notable updates include:

• Expanded passenger handling guidelines for unaccompanied minors, unruly or inadmissible passengers, and those requiring medical or accessibility support.

• Alignment with IATA Resolution 753 on baggage tracking, improving accountability and reducing mishandling.

• Updated potable water procedures, including guidelines for collection, treatment, and transport, in line with global hygiene standards.

• Revised aircraft turnaround procedures, optimizing coordination between ground handlers, airlines, and airport authorities to reduce delays.

These updates support IATA's "Ground Operations 2030 Vision," which seeks to harmonize safety and efficiency standards across the industry while integrating digital monitoring and sustainability targets.

Advancing Digital Tools and Compliance

In line with the aviation industry's digital transformation, IATA has introduced several new digital tools across its 2026 manuals to simplify compliance, improve data accessibility, and support remote collaboration:

• Launch of LAR Verify, a web-based compliance platform providing real-time digital access to the Live Animals Regulations for airlines, shippers, and freight forwarders.

• A comprehensive digital database of dangerous goods, allowing users to search and cross-reference classification and packaging requirements.

• An enhanced battery classification tool now including sodium-ion and hybrid battery types, enabling shippers to easily identify applicable regulations.

These innovations aim to make the manuals more interactive and user-friendly, ensuring that cargo operators, airlines, and logistics professionals can adapt quickly to evolving regulatory demands.

Setting Global Standards for the Future

IATA's 2026 updates reinforce the organization's central role in defining and maintaining global aviation safety standards. Over the past eight decades, these manuals have become indispensable tools for the air cargo and ground operations sectors, providing a unified reference framework for airlines, airports, freight forwarders, and regulators worldwide.

"The aviation industry continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace," Léger concluded. "From emerging battery technologies to animal welfare and passenger experience, IATA's latest manuals ensure that every aspect of air transport operates according to the highest safety, environmental, and operational standards."

The updated manuals—DGR, BSR, LAR, and IGOM—are now available through IATA's digital platform and in print, ensuring that air transport professionals around the world remain equipped with the most up-to-date standards to guide safe, efficient, and sustainable operations in 2026 and beyond.